EN Official Journal of the European Union L 341/27

COUNCIL DECISION 2010/799/CFSP

of 13 December 2010

in support of a process of confidence-building leading to the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East in support of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 26(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The EU is actively implementing the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, such as rendering multilateralism more effective and promoting a stable international and regional environment.

(2) The EU is committed to the multilateral treaty system, which provides the legal and normative basis for all non-proliferation efforts. The EU policy is to pursue the implementation and universalisation of the existing disarmament and non-proliferation norms. The EU will assist third countries in the fulfilment of their obligations under multilateral conventions and regimes.

(3) Promotion of a stable international and regional environment is a condition for the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). To this end, the EU will foster regional security arrangements, regional arms control and disarmament processes.

(4) Positive and negative security assurances can play an important role: they can serve both as an incentive to forego the acquisition of WMD and as a deterrent. The EU will promote further consideration of security assurances.

(5) Proliferation of WMD is a global threat, which requires a global approach. However, as security in Europe is closely linked to security and stability in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the EU believes that it has the duty to contribute to the security and stability in this region.

(6) The Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean of 13 July 2008, establishing the Union for the Mediterranean, reaffirmed the common aspiration to achieve peace as well as regional security as set out in the Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of 27-28 November 1995, which, inter alia, promotes regional security by acting in favour of nuclear, chemical and biological non-proliferation through adherence to and compliance with a combination of international and regional non-proliferation regimes and arms control and disarmament agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, and/or regional arrangements such as weapons-free zones, including their verification regimes, as well as by fulfilling in good faith their commitments under arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation conventions.

(7) The parties to the Union for the Mediterranean will pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of WMD — nuclear, chemical and biological — and their delivery systems. Furthermore the parties will consider practical steps, inter alia, to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as excessive accumulation of conventional arms.

(8) The Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements between the EU and Mediterranean partners foresee the establishment of a regular political dialogue, which will enhance regional security and stability and cover all subjects of common interest, in particular peace, security, democracy and regional development.

(9) On 19-20 June 2008, the EU organised a seminar in Paris on ‘Middle East Security, WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’, which brought together representatives of States of the region and EU Member States as well as academics and national nuclear energy agencies. Participants encouraged the EU to promote the continuation of the debate in various fora, and to gradually move to a more formal format that would include discussions among government officials, building on the Barcelona Framework, but doing so in a geographically more inclusive format.

(10) The 2010 NPT Review Conference emphasised the importance of a process leading to full implementation of its 1995 Resolution on the Middle East (the 1995 Resolution). To that end, the Conference endorsed practical steps, inter alia, consideration of all offers aimed at supporting the implementation of the 1995 Resolution, including the offer of the EU to host a follow-up seminar related to the one organised in June 2008.

(11) The 2010 NPT Review Conference further recognised the important role played by civil society in contributing to the implementation of the 1995 Resolution and encouraged all efforts in this regard.

(12) The 20th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting held in Luxembourg on 14 June 2010 welcomed the successful outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. The participants reiterated support for the establishment of a zone free of all WMD and their means of delivery in the Middle East, including the Gulf region,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. For the purpose of providing follow-up to the 2008 EU seminar on ‘Middle East Security, WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’, the EU shall support activities in order to further the following objectives:

— to encourage regional political and security-related dialogue within civil societies and governments, and more particularly among experts, officials and academics,

— to identify confidence-building measures that could serve as practical steps towards the prospect of a Middle East zone free of WMD and their means of delivery,

— to encourage discussion on the universalisation and implementation of relevant international treaties and other instruments to prevent the proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems,

— to discuss issues related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and international and regional cooperation in this regard.

2. In this context, the projects to be supported by the EU shall cover the following specific activities:

(a) providing means for the organisation of a follow-up event related to the 2008 EU seminar on ‘Middle East Security, WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’;

(b) providing means for the preparation of background papers on subjects dealt with by the follow-up seminar.

A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.

Article 2

1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2. Technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, which shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 347 700.

2. The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.

3. The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. The agreement shall stipulate that the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium is to ensure visibility of the EU 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 agreement.

Article 4

1. The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council.

2. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

Article 5

1. This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

2. This Decision shall expire 18 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreements referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire 6 months after its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded by that time.

Done at Brussels, 13 December 2010. For the Council The President C. ASHTON