EN Official Journal of the European Union L 349/63

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2004/797/CFSP

of 22 November 2004

on support for OPCW activities in the framework 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 14 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, which contains, in its Chapter III, a list of measures to combat such proliferation.

(2) The European Union is actively implementing the above EU Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in its Chapter III, in particular those related to the universalisation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and of the provision of financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions.

(3) The objectives of the EU Strategy, as set out in recital (2), are complementary to the objectives pursued by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in the context of its responsibility for the implementation of the CWC.

(4) The Commission has accepted to be entrusted with the supervision of the proper implementation of the EU contribution,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

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 activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), with the following objectives:

— Promotion of universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC);

— Support for full implementation of the CWC by States Parties;

— International cooperation in the field of chemical activities, as accompanying measures to the implementation of the CWC.

2. The projects of the OPCW, corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, are the projects which aim at strengthening:

— The promotion of the CWC by carrying out activities, including regional and sub-regional workshops and seminars, aiming at increasing the membership of the OPCW;

— The provision of sustained technical support to States Parties that request it for the establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities and the enactment of national implementation measures as foreseen in the CWC;

— International cooperation in the field of chemical activities through the exchange of scientific and technical information, chemicals and equipment for purposes not prohibited under the CWC, in order to contribute to the development of the States Parties' capacities to implement the CWC.

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

Article 2

1. The financial reference amount for the three projects listed in Article 1(2) is EUR 1 841 000.

2. The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the European Community procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union with the exception that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3. For the purpose of implementing the projects referred to in Article 1, the Commission shall conclude a financing agreement with the OPCW on the conditions for the use of the EU contribution, which will take the form of a grant. The financing agreement to be concluded will stipulate that the OPCW shall ensure visibility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

4. The Commission shall report on the implementation of the EU contribution to the Council, in association with its Presidency.

Article 3

The EU Council Presidency shall be responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action in full association with the Commission. The Commission shall supervise the proper implementation of the EU contribution referred to in Article 2.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

It shall expire one year after its adoption.

Article 5

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 22 November 2004. For the Council The President B. R. BOT