EN Official Journal of the European Union L 196/61

COUNCIL DECISION 2012/421/CFSP

of 23 July 2012

in support of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), in the framework 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 Articles 26(2) and 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 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 its Chapter III thereof, in particular those measures related to reinforcement, implementation and universalisation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).

(3) On 27 February 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP (1) in support of the BTWC, in the framework of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), which expired on 26 August 2007. Seven more States became States Parties to the BTWC since the adoption of Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP.

(4) On 20 March 2006, the Council adopted an Action Plan on biological and toxin weapons, complementary to Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP in support of the BTWC (2). The Action Plans provided for an efficient use of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General investigation mechanism for alleged use of biological weapons.

(5) On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/858/CFSP (3) in support of the BTWC, in the framework of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of WMD. Three more States became States Parties to the BTWC since the adoption of Joint Action 2008/858/CFSP and several States benefited from assistance provided by Union experts.

(6) The Sixth Review Conference of the BTWC decided to establish the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), with a five-year mandate (2007-2011), within the Geneva Branch of the U N Office for Disarmament Affairs (UN ODA) in order to provide administrative support to meetings agreed by the Sixth Review Conference as well as support for the comprehensive implementation and universalisation of the BTWC and the exchange of Confidence-Building Measures.

(7) On 18 July 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/429/CFSP (4) relating to the position of the European Union for the Seventh Review Conference of the BTWC.

(8) The Seventh Review Conference of the BTWC decided to renew the mandate of the Implementation Support Unit for another five-year term (2012-2016) and decided to expand its tasks to include the implementation of the decision to establish and administer the database for assistance requests and offers, and facilitating the associated exchange of information among States Parties, as well as support, as appropriate, the implementation by States Parties of the decisions and recommendations of the Seventh Review Conference.

(9) The Commission should be entrusted with the supervision of the proper implementation of the Union financial contribution,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. For the purpose of giving immediate and practical application to some elements of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the European Union shall support the BTWC, with the following objectives:

— promoting the universality of the BTWC,

— supporting the implementation of the BTWC, including submission of CBMs by the States Parties,

— supporting the work of the 2012-2015 inter-sessional programme with a view to strengthening the implementation and effectiveness of the BTWC.

2. The projects corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, are those that aim at:

— promoting awareness about implementation of the BTWC, strengthening the regional discussion of inter-sessional topics and their application, and supporting key regional actors in defining needs and requirements for national implementation,

— assisting both States Parties and States non-Parties, in order to ensure that States Parties transpose their international obligations into their national legislation and administrative measures and establish functioning relationship among all national stakeholders. The assistance entails support to States Parties for establishing a national CBMs process and nomination of national contact points. For non-States Parties, the assistance would include support for acceding to or ratifying the BTWC,

— supporting the development of various enabling tools and activities that would assist States Parties in national implementation, including the submission of CBMs, allow representatives of States Parties to actively engage in the international BTWC process, and raise States Parties’ awareness of available international support.

A detailed description of these 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. The technical implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be entrusted to the UN ODA. It shall perform its task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the UN ODA.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1 700 000.

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 general budget of the Union.

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 UN ODA. The agreement shall stipulate that the UN ODA is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution.

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

The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the UN ODA. 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 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 24 months after the date of the 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.

Done at Brussels, 23 July 2012. For the Council The President C. ASHTON

(1) OJ L 65, 7.3.2006, p. 51.

(2) OJ C 57, 9.3.2006, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 302, 13.11.2008, p. 29.

(4) OJ L 188, 19.7.2011, p. 42.