EN Official Journal of the European Union L 176/31

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2007/468/CFSP

of 28 June 2007

on support for activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in order to strengthen its monitoring and verification capabilities and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the 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, Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation which need to be taken both within the EU and in third countries.

(2) The European Union is actively implementing the EU Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular by releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions.

(3) The States Signatories to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 September 1996, have decided to establish a Preparatory Commission, endowed with legal capacity, for the purpose of carrying out the effective implementation of the CTBT, pending the establishment of the CTBT Organisation (CTBTO).

(4) On 17 November 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/805/CFSP (1) on the universalisation and reinforcement of multilateral agreements in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery.

(5) The early entry into force and universalisation of the CTBT and the strengthening of the monitoring and verification system of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO are important objectives of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

(6) The Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO pursues the same objectives as those referred to in recitals 4 and 5 and is already engaged in identifying by what means its verification system could best be strengthened through the timely provision of expertise and training to personnel from the States Signatories involved in the implementation of the verification regime. It is therefore appropriate to entrust the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO with the technical implementation of this Joint Action.

(7) On 20 March 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/243/CFSP (2) on support for activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in the area of training and capacity building for verification and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

(8) The nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in October 2006 further underlined the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT and the need for an accelerated building-up of the CTBTO monitoring and verification system,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. For the purposes of immediate and practical implementation of certain elements of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the European Union shall support the activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in order to further the following objectives:

(a) strengthening the capabilities of the CTBTO monitoring and verification system, including in the field of radio-nuclide detection;

(b) enhancing the operational performance of the CTBTO monitoring and verification system, including through testing and validation of on-site inspection modalities.

2. The projects to be supported by the European Union shall have the following specific objectives:

(a) to provide support for the development of capacity in the area of noble gas monitoring and verification;

(b) to provide support for the preparation, conduct and evaluation of the Integrated Field Exercise 2008 in the area of on-site inspections (IFE08/OSI).

The projects shall be carried out for the benefit of all States Signatories to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

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

Article 2

1. The Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (SG/HR), shall be responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action. The Commission shall be fully associated.

2. The projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. It shall perform this task under the control of the SG/HR, assisting the Presidency. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO.

3. The Presidency, the SG/HR and the Commission shall keep each other regularly informed about the projects, in conformity with their respective competences.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1 670 000.

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 Communities with the exception that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3. The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, which shall take the form of a grant. The financing agreement shall stipulate that the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO 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 Joint Action. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

Article 4

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Joint Action on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. These reports shall form the basis for the evaluation by the Council. The Commission shall be fully associated. It shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of this Joint Action.

Article 5

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

It shall expire:

(a) 15 months after the conclusion of the financing agreement between the Commission and the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, or

(b) 12 months after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.

Article 6

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

Done at Luxembourg, 28 June 2007. For the Council The President S. GABRIEL

(1) OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 34.

(2) OJ L 88, 25.3.2006, p. 68.