Council Decision dated 23rd of September 2013 on the Rules for protection of EU classified information (2013/488/ЕU)

On 15th October 2013 in the EU Official Gazette, L 274, the Council Decision dated 23rd of September 2013 on the Rules for protection of EU classified information (2013/488/ЕU) was published. The new rules revoke and replace Decision 2011/292/EU dated 31st March 2011 on the Security Rules for protection of EU classified information. The information of EU classified in accordance with Council Decisions 2001/264/ЕU и 2011/292/EU, shall be protected in compliance with the new Decision.

The new Decision stipulates the main principles and minimum standards regarding the protection of EU classified information (EUCI) in all areas which require access to classified information. It is implemented in cases when EU Council, its preparatory bodies and the General Secretariat of EU Council are required to handle classified information. The Member States shall comply with the Decision in accordance with their national legal and sub-legal acts to an extent that guarantees protection level of EUCI in conformity with the basic principles and minimum security standards laid down in the Decision. On their behalf the Council and the General Secretariat provide protection of national classified information in compliance with the requirements implemented for EUCI. For this purpose a Table of compliance with the security classification levels has been elaborated, which is contained in Appendix B to the Decision.

The rules have been updated in conformity with the practical experience and have been simplified in order to be more easily implemented.

The Council Decision dated 23rd of September 2013 on the Rules for protection of EU classified information (2013/488/ЕU) enters into force as of the day on which it was published in EU Official Gazette. It is published on SCIS’ webpage in section “International Documents and meetings”, subsection “European Community”.