EN Official Journal of the European Union L 202/5

COUNCIL DECISION 2010/430/CFSP

of 26 July 2010

establishing a European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks 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 Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (hereinafter referred to as the ‘EU WMD Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures that need to be taken both within the Union and in third countries to combat such proliferation.

(2) The Union is actively implementing the EU WMD Strategy and giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, such as developing the necessary structures within the Union.

(3) On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted its conclusions and a document ‘New lines for action by the European Union in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘New Lines for Action’) which states that proliferation of WMD continues to constitute one of the greatest security challenges and that non-proliferation policy constitutes an essential part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

(4) In the New Lines for Action, the Council calls on competent Council formations and bodies, the Commission, other institutions, and Member States, to give a concrete follow-up to that document with a view to achieving its objectives by the end of 2010.

(5) In the New Lines for Action, the Council underlines that action of the Union to prevent proliferation could benefit from the support provided by a non-governmental non-proliferation network, bringing together foreign policy institutions and research centres specialising in the Union’s strategic areas while building on useful networks which already exist. Such a network could be extended to institutions in third countries with which the Union is conducting specific dialogues in connection with non-proliferation.

(6) On 15-16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition (hereinafter referred to as the ‘EU SALW Strategy’) which sets the guidelines for the action of the Union in the field of SALW. The EU SALW Strategy considers that the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

(7) The EU SALW Strategy identifies among its objectives the need to foster effective multilateralism so as to forge mechanisms, whether international, regional or within the Union and its Member States, for countering the supply and destabilising spread of SALW and their ammunition,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. For the purposes of contributing to the enhanced implementation of the EU WMD Strategy, which is based on the principles of effective multilateralism, prevention and cooperation with third countries, a European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks is hereby established to further the following objectives:

(a) to encourage political and security-related dialogue and long-term discussion of measures to combat the proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems within civil societies, and more particularly among experts, researchers and academics;

(b) to provide those participating in the relevant preparatory bodies of the Council with the opportunity to consult the network on issues related to non-proliferation and to enable the representatives of Member States to participate in the network’s meetings chaired by the representative of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR);

(c) to constitute a useful stepping stone for non-proliferation action by the Union and the international community, in particular by providing a report and/or recommendations to the representative of the HR;

(d) to contribute to enhancing awareness of third countries of proliferation challenges and of the need to work in cooperation with the Union and in the context of multilateral fora, in particular the United Nations, to prevent, deter, halt and where possible, eliminate proliferation programmes of concern worldwide.

2. In the light of the EU SALW Strategy, the scope of activities of the proposed European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks shall not be limited to addressing questions related to the threats posed by the proliferation of WMD, but shall also cover issues related to conventional weapons, including SALW. The inclusion of conventional weapons issues in the field of activity of the network will offer an outstanding tool for dialogue and recommendation on action of the Union in this area within the framework of the implementation of the EU SALW Strategy and the Union’s policy on conventional weapons.

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

(a) providing means for the organisation of a kick-off meeting and an annual conference with a view to submitting a report and/or recommendations to the representative of the HR;

(b) providing financial and technical means for the creation of an Internet platform to facilitate contacts and foster research dialogue among the network of think tanks analysing WMD and conventional weapons-related issues, including SALW.

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

Article 2

1. The HR shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2. Technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(3) shall be carried out by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium based on la Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS), the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (HSFK/PRIF), the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The EU Non-Proliferation Consortium shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the consortium.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(3) shall be EUR 2 182 000.

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 EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. The agreement shall stipulate that the 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 report on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(3).

Article 5

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

2. This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3).

However, it shall expire 6 months after its entry into force if that financing agreement has not been concluded by that time.

Done at Brussels, 26 July 2010. For the Council The President S. VANACKERE