Council Joint Action 2003/472/CFSP

of 24 June 2003

on the continuation of the European Union cooperation programme for non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), and in particular Article 14, in conjunction with Article 23(2) thereof,

Having regard to Common Strategy 1999/414/CFSP of the European Union on Russia(1), adopted by the European Council on 4 June 1999 as amended by Common Strategy 2003/471/CFSP of the European Council amending Common Strategy 1999/414/CFSP on Russia in order to extend the period of its application(2), adopted by the European Council on 20 June 2003, which, inter alia, expressed the European Union's commitment to promote disarmament and curbing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), support for arms control, the implementation of existing agreements and the strengthening of export controls,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement on partnership and cooperation establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part(3), promotes, inter alia, an increasing convergence of positions on international issues of mutual concern thus increasing security and stability.

(2) On 25 and 26 June 2002 in Kananaskis, Canada, the leaders of the G8 nations launched the global partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction initiative, under which they will support specific cooperation projects, initially in the Russia Federation, to address non-proliferation, disarmament, counter-terrorism and nuclear safety issues.

(3) The European Union supports the aim and principles of the G8 global partnership initiative and continues to promote cooperative threat reduction activities and the safe and secure dismantlement of WMD-related resources in the Russian Federation.

(4) The European Union activities would take place in parallel with activities carried out by the European Community as well as bilaterally and multilaterally by the Member States.

(5) All such activities should be coordinated to the greatest possible extent to avoid unnecessary duplication.

(6) European Union activities can also be undertaken in cooperation with other countries.

(7) Commission has agreed to be entrusted with certain tasks necessary for the implementation of this Joint Action,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. The European Union cooperation programme for non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as "the Programme"), which was established by Council Joint Action 1999/878/CFSP of 17 December 1999, establishing an EU cooperation programme for non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation(4) shall be hereby continued.

2. The objective of the programme is to support the Russian Federation in its efforts towards arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation and, to that end:

- to cooperate with the Russian Federation in the latter's pursuit of a safe, secure and environmentally sound dismantlement and/or reconversion of infrastructure and equipment linked to its WMD,

- to provide a legal and operational framework for an enhanced European Union role in cooperative threat-reduction activities in the Russian Federation through project orientated cooperation,

- to promote coordination as appropriate of programmes and projects in this field at Community, Member State and international level.

Article 2

1. The Council shall decide, on the basis of a recommendation of a Member State and/or the Commission, which new disarmament and non-proliferation projects shall be funded under the programme.

2. The new projects to be adopted under the programme shall be in the chemical, nuclear or biological field or relate to export controls.

Article 3

1. The Council shall entrust the Commission, for the duration of the programme and subject to Article 5, with the task of preparing the projects to be approved, as well as with supervising their proper implementation. The Commission shall report to the Council, on a regular basis and as the need arises, under the authority of the Presidency assisted by the Secretary-General of the Council, High Representative for the CFSP.

2. The Commission shall be assisted by a unit of experts including a project assistance team in Moscow. The number of members of the unit and a definition of their tasks are specified in the terms of reference set out in the Annex.

3. The Commission shall continue to have a project assistance team in Moscow, in order to:

- operate in close coordination with personnel working under Community-funded projects,

- as appropriate, carry out feasibility studies,

- liaise with the local authorities and with the representatives of other contributing countries,

- negotiate with the local authorities the arrangements necessary for the implementation of the programme,

- monitor the expenditure of the funds committed for the implementation of the programme.

Article 4

1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the administrative costs of the unit of experts referred to in Article 3(2) and (3) shall be EUR 680000.

2. The management of the expenditure financed by the amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the procedures and rules of the Community applying to budget matters.

3. The European Union shall finance the infrastructure and current expenditure of the programme.

4. The Council and the Commission shall ensure appropriate coordination between the programme, Community assistance as well as the bilateral and multilateral assistance provided by the Member States. In that context, the Council notes that the Commission intends to direct its action towards achieving the objectives and the priorities of this Joint Action, where appropriate by pertinent Community measures.

5. The implementation of this Joint Action shall be the subject of bilateral consultations with the Russian Federation and other partners within the framework of existing political dialogue meetings.

Article 5

1. The Council shall regularly review the actions taken pursuant to the programme. This review shall also assess Russian capabilities to absorb and utilise increased assistance.

2. Independent evaluations and audit shall be conducted at periodic stages, depending on progress of the programme.

3. The Council may suspend the programme, if the Russian Federation fails:

- fully to cooperate with the implementation of the programme,

- to allow European Union monitoring and/or periodical external evaluations and audit to that effect.

Article 6

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

It shall expire on the date of expiry of European Union Common Strategy 1999/414/CFSP on Russia.

Article 7

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

Done at Brussels, 24 June 2003.

For the Council

The President

G. Papandreou

(1) OJ L 157, 24.6.1999, p. 1.

(2) See page 68 of this Official Journal.

(3) OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 3.

(4) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999, p. 11.

ANNEX

Terms of reference for the unit of experts under the EU cooperation programme for non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation

Joint Action 1999/878/CFSP entrusted the Commission to set up a unit of experts under the cooperation programme for non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation. The said Joint Action was complemented by two implementing decisions (2001/493/CFSP of 25 June 2001 defining additional projects and 2002/381/CFSP of 21 May 2002 providing an additional budget for the unit of experts).

Some activities of the projects decided in 1999 and 2001 could not be finalised by the date of expiry of the Joint Action 1999/878/CFSP and decisions on new projects are expected to be taken under this Joint Action. This requires the prolongation of the mandate of the unit of experts.

The unit of experts comprises a policy and project coordination section at the Commission in Brussels and a project assistance team based in Moscow, reporting to the policy and project coordination section in Brussels. The policy and project coordination section comprises two EU experts and a head of section, who is seconded by the Commission. The section is administratively supported by one secretary and one administrative assistant. The Moscow-based project assistance team comprises one EU expert and one local secretary.

The head of section assumes overall responsibility for the implementation of the Joint Action. He maintains close relations with the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the Member States and the Secretary-General of the Council, High Representative for the CFSP.

Tasks related to policy and project coordination and development shall comprise, inter alia, the following:

- support coordination of programmes on non-proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation at Community, Member State and wider levels,

- establishing a database of projects funded by the EU, Community and Member States,

- establishing and maintaining a database on EU experts, broken down by policy areas,

- establishing a network of Member States points of contact, supplementing the competent Council working groups as regards the implementation of the Joint Action and related activities,

- to prepare and submit regular progress reports,

- to function as point of contact for international initiatives,

- to liaise with the recipient country authorities and official representatives of other non-EU contributing countries,

- to organise or co-organise conferences in the frame of the non-proliferation and disarmament cooperation initiative (NDCI).

Sectoral tasks cover, inter alia, the following:

- drawing up comprehensive sector reports,

- providing an in-depth analysis on sectoral core problems,

- defining and implementing limited feasibility studies, when needed,

- identifying projects to address core problems,

- preparing projects to be submitted to the Council with a view to possible future funding under follow-up measures to this Joint Action,

- finalising and coordinating implementation of projects funded under Joint Action and Joint Action 1999/878/CFSP, including by decisions implementing the Joint Actions, in close cooperation, as appropriate, with the Member States hosting the projects,

- ensuring close cooperation with personnel working under projects funded by the EU.