1.   Following the decision of the European Union to invite the Republic of Albania to participate in an EU crisis management operation, and once the Republic of Albania has decided to participate, the Republic of Albania shall provide information on its proposed contribution to the European Union.

2.   The assessment by the European Union of the Republic of Albania’s contribution shall be conducted in consultation with the Republic of Albania.

3.   The European Union shall provide the Republic of Albania with an early indication of the likely contribution to the common costs of the operation as soon as possible with a view to assisting the Republic of Albania in the formulation of its offer.

4.   The European Union shall communicate the outcome of that assessment to the Republic of Albania by a letter with a view to securing the participation of the Republic of Albania in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

1.   The Republic of Albania shall associate itself with the Council Decision by which the Council of the European Union decides that the EU will conduct the crisis management operation, and with any other decision by which the Council of the European Union decides to extend the EU crisis management operation, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and any required implementing arrangements.

2.   The contribution of the Republic of Albania to an EU crisis management operation shall be without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of the European Union.

1.   The status of personnel seconded to an EU civilian crisis management operation and/or of the forces contributed to an EU military crisis management operation by the Republic of Albania shall be governed by the agreement on the status of forces/mission, if available, concluded between the European Union and the State(s) in which the operation is conducted.

2.   The status of personnel contributed to headquarters or command elements located outside the State(s) in which the EU crisis management operation takes place, shall be governed by arrangements between the headquarters and command elements concerned and the Republic of Albania.

3.   Without prejudice to the agreement on the status of forces/mission referred to in paragraph 1, the Republic of Albania shall exercise jurisdiction over its personnel participating in the EU crisis management operation.

4.   The Republic of Albania shall be responsible for answering any claims linked to the participation in an EU crisis management operation, from or concerning any of its personnel. The Republic of Albania shall be responsible for bringing any action, in particular legal or disciplinary, against any of its personnel in accordance with its laws and regulations.

5.   The Parties agree to waive any and all claims, other than contractual claims, against each other for damage to, loss, or destruction of assets owned/operated by either Party, or injury or death to personnel of either Party, arising out of the performance of their official duties in connection with activities under this Agreement, except in the case of gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

6.   The Republic of Albania undertakes to make a declaration as regards the waiver of claims against any State participating in an EU crisis management operation in which the Republic of Albania participates, and to do so when signing this Agreement.

7.   The European Union undertakes to ensure that European Union Member States make a declaration as regards the waiver of claims, for any future participation of the Republic of Albania in an EU crisis management operation, and to do so when signing this Agreement.

1.   The Republic of Albania shall take appropriate measures to ensure that EU classified information is protected in accordance with the Council of the European Union’s security regulations, contained in Council Decision 2011/292/EU of 31 March 2011 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (1) and in accordance with further guidance issued by competent authorities, including the EU Operation Commander concerning an EU military crisis management operation or by the EU Head of Mission concerning an EU civilian crisis management operation.

2.   Where the EU and the Republic of Albania have concluded an agreement on security procedures for the exchange of classified information, the provisions of such an agreement shall apply in the context of an EU crisis management operation.

1.   The Republic of Albania shall ensure that its personnel seconded to the EU civilian crisis management operation undertake their mission in accordance with:

2.   The Republic of Albania shall inform in due time the Head of Mission of the EU civilian crisis management operation (‘Head of Mission’) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘HR’) of any change to its contribution to the EU civilian crisis management operation.

3.   Personnel seconded to the EU civilian crisis management operation shall undergo a medical examination, vaccination and be certified medically fit for duty by a competent authority from the Republic of Albania. Personnel seconded to the EU civilian crisis management operation shall produce a copy of that certification.

1.   Personnel seconded by the Republic of Albania shall carry out their duties and conduct themselves solely with the interests of the EU civilian crisis management operation in mind.

2.   All personnel shall remain under the full command of their national authorities.

3.   National authorities shall transfer operational control to the European Union.

4.   The Head of Mission shall assume responsibility and exercise command and control of the EU civilian crisis management operation at theatre level.

5.   The Head of Mission shall lead the EU civilian crisis management operation and assume its day-to-day management.

6.   The Republic of Albania shall have the same rights and obligations in terms of day-to-day management of the operation as European Union Member States taking part in the operation, in accordance with the legal instruments referred to in Article 2(1).

7.   The Head of Mission shall be responsible for disciplinary control over EU civilian crisis management operation personnel. Where required, disciplinary action shall be taken by the national authority concerned.

8.   A National Contingent Point of Contact (NPC) shall be appointed by the Republic of Albania to represent its national contingent in the operation. The NPC shall report to the Head of Mission on national matters and shall be responsible for day-to-day discipline of the contingent.

9.   The decision to end the operation shall be taken by the European Union, following consultation with the Republic of Albania if it is still contributing to the EU civilian crisis management operation at the date of termination of the operation.

1.   Without prejudice to Article 8, the Republic of Albania shall assume all the costs associated with its participation in the operation apart from the running costs, as set out in the operational budget of the operation.

2.   In case of death, injury, loss or damage to natural or legal persons from the State(s) in which the operation is conducted, the Republic of Albania shall, when its liability has been established, pay compensation under the conditions foreseen in the applicable status of mission agreement referred to in Article 3(1).

1.   The Republic of Albania shall contribute to the financing of the budget of the EU civilian crisis management operation.

2.   The financial contribution of the Republic of Albania to the operational budget shall be calculated on the basis of either of the following formulae, whichever produces the lower amount:

3.   Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, the Republic of Albania shall not make any contribution towards the financing of per diem allowances paid to personnel of the European Union Member States.

4.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the European Union shall, in principle, exempt the Republic of Albania from financial contributions to a particular EU civilian crisis management operation when:

5.   An arrangement on the payment of the contributions of the Republic of Albania to the operational budget of the EU civilian crisis management operation shall be signed between the Head of Mission and the relevant administrative services of the Republic of Albania. That arrangement shall, inter alia, include the following provisions:

1.   The Republic of Albania shall ensure that its forces and personnel participating in the EU military crisis management operation undertake their mission in accordance with:

2.   Personnel seconded by the Republic of Albania shall carry out their duties and conduct themselves solely with the interest of the EU military crisis management operation in mind.

3.   The Republic of Albania shall inform the EU Operation Commander in due time of any change to its participation in the operation.

1.   All forces and personnel participating in the EU military crisis management operation shall remain under the full command of their national authorities.

2.   National authorities shall transfer the Operational and Tactical command and/or control of their forces and personnel to the EU Operation Commander, who is entitled to delegate his authority.

3.   The Republic of Albania shall have the same rights and obligations in terms of the day-to-day management of the operation as participating European Union Member States.

4.   The EU Operation Commander may, following consultations with the Republic of Albania, at any time request the withdrawal of the Republic of Albania’s contribution.

5.   A Senior Military Representative (‘SMR’) shall be appointed by the Republic of Albania to represent its national contingent in the EU military crisis management operation. The SMR shall consult with the EU Force Commander on all matters affecting the operation and shall be responsible for the day-to-day discipline of the Republic of Albania contingent.

1.   Without prejudice to Article 12 of this Agreement, the Republic of Albania shall assume all the costs associated with its participation in the operation unless the costs are subject to common funding as provided for in the legal instruments referred to in Article 2(1) of this Agreement, as well as in Council Decision 2008/975/CFSP of 18 December 2008 establishing a mechanism to administer the financing of the common costs of European Union operations having military or defence implications (Athena) (2).

2.   In case of death, injury, loss or damage to natural or legal persons from the State(s) in which the operation is conducted, the Republic of Albania shall, when its liability has been established, pay compensation under the conditions foreseen in the applicable status of forces agreement referred to in Article 3(1).

1.   The Republic of Albania shall contribute to the financing of the common costs of the EU military crisis management operation.

2.   The financial contribution of the Republic of Albania to the common costs shall be calculated on the basis of either of the following two formulae, whichever produces the lower amount:

In calculating 2(b), where the Republic of Albania contributes personnel only to the Operation or Force Headquarters, the ratio used shall be that of its personnel to that of the total number of the respective headquarters personnel. In other cases, the ratio shall be that of all personnel contributed by the Republic of Albania to that of the total personnel of the operation.

3.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the European Union shall, in principle, exempt the Republic of Albania from financial contributions to the common costs of a particular EU military crisis management operation when:

4.   An arrangement shall be concluded between the Administrator provided for in Decision 2008/975/CFSP, and the competent administrative authorities of the Republic of Albania. That arrangement shall include, inter alia, provisions on:

1.   This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the first month after the Parties have notified each other of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for this purpose.

2.   This Agreement shall be provisionally applied from the date of signature.

3.   This Agreement shall be subject to regular review.

4.   This Agreement may be amended on the basis of a mutual written agreement between the Parties.

5.   This Agreement may be denounced by either Party by written notice of denunciation given to the other Party. Such denunciation shall take effect six months after receipt of notification by the other Party.