COMMON POSITION of 23 April 1998 defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union, relating to preparation for the second Preparatory Committee for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (98/289/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.2 thereof,

Having regard to the importance attached by the European Union to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime,

Whereas on 25 July 1994 the Council adopted Decision 94/509/CFSP concerning the joint action regarding preparation for the 1995 Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (1);

Whereas the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons adopted decisions on the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, on the strengthening of the review process for the Treaty, and on a resolution on the Middle East;

Whereas at the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, held in New York on 7 to 18 April 1997, it was agreed provisionally to hold a second session on 27 April to 8 May 1998 in Geneva and a third session on 12 to 23 April 1999 in New York;

Whereas on 29 April 1997 the Council adopted Joint Action 97/288/CFSP concerning the European Union's contribution to the promotion of transparency in nuclear-related export controls (2);

Whereas, on the basis of negotiating Directives adopted by the Council on 1 December 1997, negotiations on an additional Protocol to the Verification Agreement between the non-nuclear weapon States of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on an additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between France, Euratom and the IAEA, and on an additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the United Kingdom, Euratom and the IAEA have been concluded;

Whereas, in the light of the outcome of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference and of the first session of the Preparatory Committee, it is appropriate to update and develop further the objectives set out in Joint Action 94/509/CFSP, and the initiatives carried out under its terms,

HAS DEFINED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The objective of the European Union shall be to strengthen the international nuclear non-proliferation regime by promoting the successful outcome of the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) 2000 Review Conference.

Article 2

For the purposes of the objective laid down in Article 1, the European Union shall:

- where appropriate, pursue efforts to convince States which are not yet parties to the NPT, in particular those States which operate unsafeguarded facilities, to accede to it, where possible before 2000,

- encourage participation in the remaining Preparatory Committee sessions of the NPT 2000 Review Conference and in the Conference itself,

- help build consensus in the Preparatory Committee sessions and in the NPT 2000 Review Conference on substantive issues in order to facilitate a structured and balanced review of the operation of the NPT and expand the agreed elements contained in the Chairman's Working Paper of the first session of the Preparatory Committee, bearing in mind the importance of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference and using this document as a starting point.

Article 3

Action taken by the European Union for the purposes of Article 2 shall comprise:

- where appropriate, demarches by the Presidency, under the conditions laid down in Article J.5(3) of the Treaty on European Union, with a view to promoting the universality of the NPT,

- demarches by the Presidency, under the conditions laid down in Article J.5(3) of the Treaty on European Union, with a view to encouraging participation in the NPT 2000 Review Conference,

- demarches by the Presidency, under the conditions laid down in Article J.5(3) of the Treaty on European Union, with regard to States Parties, in order to urge their support for the objectives set out in Article 2,

- the pursuit of agreement by Member States on draft proposals on substantive issues for submission on behalf of the European Union during the strengthened review process for consideration by States Parties to the NPT which may ultimately form the basis for recommendations to the NPT 2000 Review Conference.

Article 4

This common position shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

Article 5

This common position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Luxembourg, 23 April 1998.

For the Council

The President

N. GRIFFITHS

(1) OJ L 205, 8.8.1994, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 120, 12.5.1997, p. 1.