Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee to take decisions on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander.

NATO has decided to appoint General Sir Richard SHIRREFF as DSACEUR to replace General John McCOLL. The assignment of General Sir Richard SHIRREFF will begin on 4 March 2011. General Sir Richard SHIRREFF should also replace General John McCOLL in his capacity as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In accordance with Article 5 of Protocol (No 22) on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and the implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications.

The Copenhagen European Council adopted on 12 and 13 December 2002 a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,