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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) and Article 31(1) thereof;Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;Whereas:
(1)On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (the ‘EU Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation.
(2)The Union is actively implementing the EU Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular those measures related to the reinforcement, implementation and universalisation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).
(3)The 2022 Strategic Compass for Security and Defence refers to the persistent threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and expresses the Union’s objective of reinforcing concrete actions in support of the goals of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control.
(4)Within the framework of the EU Strategy, the Council adopted, in support of the BTWC, Joint Actions 2006/184/CFSPnote and 2008/858/CFSPnote, and Decisions 2012/421/CFSPnote, (CFSP) 2016/51note, (CFSP) 2019/97note, (CFSP) 2024/349note and (CFSP) 2025/494note. Through those joint actions and decisions, the Union contributed to the building up of a multilateral capacity to investigate alleged use of biological weapons. That Union support should be continued.
(5)The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (the ‘UNSGM’) refers to the authority given to the UN Secretary-General by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/42/37C. That authority to conduct an investigation in response to reports that may be brought to the attention of the UN Secretary-General by any UN Member State, in order to establish the facts related to an allegation of use of such weapons, was reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 620 (1988).
(6)In his Agenda for Disarmament ‘Securing our Common Future’, presented on 24 May 2018, the UN Secretary-General noted that the BTWC does not have single standing body with responsibility for carrying out investigations with the aim of determining whether or not biological weapons have been used in violation of the BTWC. Therefore, the Agenda for Disarmament establishes actions that aim to contribute to developing a framework that ensures a coordinated international response to the use of biological weapons and to establish a core standing coordinating capacity to conduct independent investigations of the alleged use of biological weapons.
(7)Against this backdrop and within the framework of the EU Strategy, the Council has also adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/732note in support of the UNSGM with a view to reinforcing multilateral capacity to investigate alleged use of biological weapons,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1#
1.In the context of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy and the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the Union shall further support the activities of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through an operational action in support to the strengthening of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM).
2.This Decision is guided by the following principles:
(a)drawing upon and integrating the lessons learned and experience gained through Decisions 2012/421/CFSP, (CFSP) 2016/51 and (CFSP) 2020/732;
(b)maximising complementarity and synergies among UNODA programmes and projects supported by the Union, including those related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004);
(c)prioritising the implementation of key elements of the Standing Preparatory Measures that are essential to maintaining and enhancing the UNSGM’s operational readiness and effective functioning;
(d)ensuring meaningful and sustained participation of Qualified Experts, Expert Consultants, and Analytical Laboratories from the Global South across all relevant initiatives and activities;
(e)strengthening strategic partnerships with relevant national institutions and international organisations to reinforce coherence, coordination, and collective capabilities.
3.The overall objective of the action referred to in paragraph 1 is to strengthen global capacity to investigate the alleged use of biological and toxin weapons by enhancing the operational readiness of the UNSGM, thereby contributing to a more effective international architecture capable of deterring the use of biological weapons and responding to potential violations of the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
4.The specific objectives of the action referred to in paragraph 1 shall be to:
(a)strengthen expert competencies and interoperability for effective investigations;
(b)harmonise validation and collaboration arrangements with the UNSGM for analytical laboratories;
(c)strengthen logistics and equipment support for investigations and training;
(d)enhance collaborative action through strategic outreach and coordination.
5.A detailed description of the action referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in the Annex.
Article 2#
1.The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the High Representative) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.
2.The technical implementation of the action referred to in Article 1(1) shall be entrusted to the UNODA. It shall perform this task under the responsibility of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the UNODA.
Article 3#
1.The financial reference amount for the implementation of the action referred to in Article 1(1) shall be EUR 800000.
2.The expenditure financed by the reference amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
3.The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the UNODA. The financing agreement shall stipulate that the UNODA is to ensure visibility of the Union’s contribution appropriate to its size.
4.The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.
Article 4#
The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the UNODA. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the action referred to in Article 1(1). The UNODA shall report to the Council every six months.
Article 5#
1.This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
2.This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or six months after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.
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