EN Official Journal of the European Union L 88/68

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2006/243/CFSP

of 20 March 2006

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

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 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 through 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 on the universalisation and reinforcement of multilateral agreements in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery (1).

(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 appearing 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 Signatory States 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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. For the purposes of immediate and practical implementation of some 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 CTBTO in the area of training and capacity building for verification in order to further the following objectives:

— enhancing the operational performance of the verification system of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO,

— improving the capacity of CTBT Signatory States to fulfil their verification responsibilities under the CTBT and to enable them to benefit fully from participation in the treaty regime and from potential civil and scientific applications.

2. The project of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, shall have the following objectives:

— to provide training for the purpose of building capacity with regard to the verification system of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO,

— to provide electronic, interactive access to training courses and technical workshops as well as continuous access to training modules.

The project shall be carried out for the benefit of all CTBT Signatory States.

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

Article 2

1. The Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the CFSP (SG/HR), shall be responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action, in full association with the Commission of the European Communities.

2. The Commission shall supervise the proper implementation of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3.

3. The technical implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be entrusted to the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, which shall perform this task under the responsibility of the Presidency and under the control of the SG/HR. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1 133 000.

2. The management of the expenditure financed by the general budget of the European Union specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the procedures and rules of the Community applying to budget matters with the proviso that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3. For the purpose of implementing the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall conclude a specific financing agreement with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO in accordance with the Regulations and Rules of the CTBTO. It shall stipulate that the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO shall ensure visibility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

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. The Commission shall be fully associated and shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2).

Article 5

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

It shall expire 15 months after its adoption.

Article 6

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

Done at Brussels, 20 March 2006. For the Council The President U. PLASSNIK

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