(d)

build consensus for the successful outcome of the Seventh Review Conference, on the basis of the framework established by the previous conferences, and promote, inter alia, the following key issues: (i) working towards identifying and strengthening effective mechanisms to build confidence in compliance within the BTWC; (ii) States Parties should be able to demonstrate compliance by means of information exchange and enhanced transparency about their capabilities and actions for implementation and intentions towards compliance. This can be achieved by means of declarations, consultations and on-site activities, representing increasing levels of transparency and scrutiny, but also by information exchange and review during the intersessional process. While recognising that there is currently no consensus on verification, which remains a central element of a complete and effective disarmament and non proliferation regime, the Union is willing to work towards identifying options that could achieve similar goals; (iii) effective implementation and full compliance with all obligations under the BTWC by all States Parties; supporting and strengthening, where necessary, national implementation measures, including criminal legislation, and control over pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins in the framework of the BTWC, inter alia, by increasing the capacity of the Implementation Support Unit of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ISU) to support national implementation and taking it up as an intersessional topic. Further action could be considered and decisions taken on ways and means to enhance national implementation. The Union will encourage discussions on possible options in this regard, especially in the area of national legislation, coordination among national stakeholders and regional and sub-regional cooperation; and implementation of appropriate biosafety and biosecurity management standards for life science institutions; (iv) universal adherence of all States to the BTWC, including calling on all States not party to the BTWC to adhere to it without further delay and to commit legally to the disarmament and non-proliferation of biological and toxin weapons; and, pending adherence of those States to the BTWC, encouraging them to participate as observers in the meetings of the States Parties and to implement, on a voluntary basis, the provisions of the BTWC. Working towards the ban on biological and toxin weapons being declared a universally binding Rule of International Law, including through universalisation of the BTWC; and therefore recommending the adoption of an action plan on universalisation, coordinated by the ISU, and evaluated during dedicated sessions during the intersessional process; (v) efforts to enhance transparency and build confidence in compliance include the confidence building measures (CBM) mechanism. The Union is willing to work on the enhancement of this mechanism by identifying measures to increase the participation, quality and comprehensiveness of the CBM mechanism; (vi) enhancing transparency about cooperation and assistance related to Article X of the BTWC and taking into account the work and the expertise of other international organisations. The Union will continue to support the concrete implementation of Article X of the BTWC through its various assistance programmes and is willing to continue the elaboration of common understandings, which forms the basis for effective action with regard to cooperation for peaceful purposes in the framework of the BTWC. Further action could be considered and decisions taken on the enhancement of international cooperation, assistance and exchange in biological sciences and technology for peaceful purposes, and on promoting capacity building in the fields of disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment of infectious diseases; (vii) strengthening the UN Secretary-General’s mechanism for investigation of alleged use of biological and toxin weapons. Further action could be considered and decisions taken on the provision of assistance and coordination in the context of Article VII of the BTWC with relevant organisations upon request by any State Party in the case of alleged use of biological and toxin weapons, including improving national capabilities for disease surveillance, detection and diagnosis and public health systems. Work done separately on strengthening the UN Secretary-General’s mechanism for investigation of alleged use of biological and toxin weapons can further help indirectly strengthen Articles VI and VII of the BTWC; (viii) supporting a process of more frequent assessments of relevant scientific and technological developments, which may have implications for the BTWC, such as the increasing convergence of chemistry and biology and in the rapidly developing fields of synthetic biology and nanotechnology; (ix) compliance with the obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1673 (2006), in particular to eliminate the risk of biological and toxin weapons being acquired or used for terrorist purposes, including possible terrorist access to materials, equipment, and knowledge that could be used in the development and production of biological and toxin weapons; (x) the G8 Global Partnership programmes targeted at support for disarmament, control and security of sensitive materials, facilities, and expertise; (xi) consideration of, and decisions on further action on the basis of the work undertaken pursuant to the intersessional process during the period from 2007 to 2010 and the efforts to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibition set out in the BTWC.