EN Official Journal of the European Union C 228/4

Six-monthly Progress Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (2013/I)

2013/C 228/05

Introduction

In line with the EU Strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction adopted by the European Council in December 2003 (doc. 15708/03), progress reports on the implementation of the Strategy are foreseen every six months. This progress report covers activities carried out in the first half of 2013.

The guiding principles of the EU in the field continue to be:

(i) the overall aim of effective multilateralism, including the promotion of the universality of international treaties, conventions and other instruments and their national implementation, in accordance with the objectives of the European Security Strategy, the EU WMD Non-proliferation strategy and the New lines for action (doc. 17172/08);

(ii) close cooperation with partners and other third countries striving towards a global convergence of views on the need to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime — efforts have continued to address non-proliferation issues in the EU's bilateral relations with all relevant countries, in particular through political dialogue meetings and more informal contacts;

(iii) effective and complementary use of all available instruments and financial resources (CFSP budget, Instrument for Stability, other instruments) in order to maximise the impact of its activities in pursuit of the EU Foreign Policy objectives.

On 9 November 2012, the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, announced the nomintion of Jacek Bylica as Principal Advisor and Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament, The Special Envoy took up function on 18 February 2013 and already represented the EU in a number of key international meetings (notably the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee, the Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference, the Proliferation Security Initiative High-Level Meeting, the Open-ended Consultations on the draft International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities).

In the first months of his mandate, the Special Envoy focused the following.

— Enhancing efforts to uphold the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which remains for the EU a top priority, given also its direct relevance for regional proliferation major challenges in Iran and DPRK. This year's NPT PrepCom was held in the shadow of the fact that a Conference on the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction was not convened in 2012, as envisioned in the documents of the 2010 Review Conference. As for the EU, the efforts of the Finnish Facilitator to that effect were supported, also through the organisation, with the assistance of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, of informal seminars facilitating dialogue among relevant parties.

— Taking forward the initiative to launch, on behalf of the international community, a Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. The Special Envoy engaged in numerous bilateral outreach meetings with key partners and briefed the UN Group of Governmental Experts on TCBMs in Outer Space (Geneva, 2 April 2013). On 16 and 17 May 2013, in Kiev, he chaired the first round of Open-ended consultations on the draft Code, bringing together around 140 representatives from 61 countries.

— Intensifying/initiating non-proliferation dialogues with major partners outside of the EU. The EU has continued close cooperation with partners and other third countries striving towards a global convergence of views on the need to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime. Efforts have continued to address non-proliferation issues in the EU's bilateral relations with all relevant countries, in particular through political dialogue meetings and more informal contacts.

The EU has continued to work for the effective and complementary use of all available instruments and financial resources (CFSP budget, Instrument for Stability, other instruments) in order to maximise the impact of its activities in supporting international organisations and third countries.

1. NUCLEAR ISSUES

The Non-Proliferation Working Group (CONOP) contributed actively to preparations of EU positions for the IAEA Board of Governors meetings in March and June 2013. It discussed and prepared the EU contributions to the NPT Preparatory Committee (April–May 2013), the GICNT expert-level meetings and Plenary, the NSG Consultative Group meeting and Plenary, the CTBTO working group and Preparatory Commission meetings, as well as other relevant meetings in the nuclear field. It pursued the implementation of the New Lines of Action by the EU in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems through discussion of various actions envisaged in this field, inter alia, on consular vigilance, and prepared Council guidance to ensure that work would continue in the areas in which progress is still needed.

1.1. Follow up to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference

The EU actively participated in the NPT Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting organised in Geneva from 22 April to 3 May 2013, and reported on its activities with regard to the implementation of the Action Plan adopted at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, including the understandings reached on the Middle East. The meeting was successfully chaired by Ambassador Cornel Feruta, Political Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. The EU contributed to the debate with one General Statement and three Cluster Statements, and made two interventions in the thematic debates on the Middle East and Article X/withdrawal. It presented a Working Paper on ‘Priority issues for discussion and progress with regard to the implementation of the NPT 2010 Review Conference conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions (2010 Action Plan)’ and organised a well-attended side event on ‘Regional Nuclear Material accountancy and Control mechanisms, the European model (EURATOM)’. The Chair's Summary reflects EU positions and puts high emphasis on non-compliance in relation to the DPRK, Iran and Syria, an EU priority. As anticipated, the issue of the Conference on a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East very much dominated the proceeding of the whole session. The EU voiced its strong support to the Facilitator for this Conference and expressed its hope that it will be convened as soon as possible this year.

1.2. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The EU has enhanced its support to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. The EU remains a key donor to the Nuclear Security Fund, with more than EUR 31 million committed since 2004. Work has started on sustaining the EU contribution. Further, on nuclear security, the EU has contributed with its technical expertise to training activities and workshops organised by IAEA and targeting third countries to enhance capabilities in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials. The EU and the IAEA have continued to coordinate their support to third countries in this field. A first-ever EU-IAEA Annual Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), involving the EEAS, the European Commission/Euratom and IAEA representatives at senior level, was held on 25 January 2013 in Brussels to enhance cooperation in other areas of the IAEA activity, increase visibility of EU contributions and further coordinate action in particular in the field of Nuclear Security, in order to ensure complementarity and avoid overlap between activities undertaken by the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence and the IAEA, and take benefit from such complementarity (to these effect, EU and IAEA had also agreed on Practical Arrangements to guide their cooperation).

The EU has committed since 2008 by Council Conclusions to contribute up to EUR 25 million to the IAEA LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) Bank. The EU contributed EUR 20 million from the Instrument for Stability to support the Bank. Another contribution is to be provided from the CFSP budget, based on a Council Decision. The Council's approval will depend on progress made between the IAEA and the Host Country for the Bank, Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, the European Commission's Nuclear Safeguards Directorate continues to apply safeguards on all civil nuclear material in all 27 EU Member States. The European Commission implements this task in close cooperation with the IAEA. To do so, it disposes of an annual budget of approximately EUR 20 million.

In the current economic situation, the IAEA and the Commission envisage enhancing their cooperation in the field of nuclear material safeguards with the aim to optimise the use of human and financial resources, while maintaining the effectiveness of safeguards.

The EU has also committed EUR 5 million to support an international project aiming at expanding and modernising the Seibersdorf Safeguards laboratory in Austria (with EUR 4,75 million already paid in December 2011). An additional contribution of EUR 5 million was committed (of which an amount of 4,75 million has been paid in December 2012).

The EU has continued to provide important technical support to the IAEA in the field of nuclear safeguards through the European Commission Cooperative Support Programme. The EU has used its various instruments to enable safe and secure implementation of peaceful uses of nuclear technology in third countries, including through the IAEA, and is working on further projects together with the IAEA.

At expert level, the European Commission in cooperation with the IAEA has launched a process to assess the IAEA's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) with regard to its response to user needs. The results of the Commission-funded project will be available in 2013.

EU funds provided to IAEA under Joint Actions from I to IV, and Council Decision V helped to advance the IAEA's efforts by raising awareness and improving understanding of nuclear security and its many component parts. Priority was given to those States that needed to determine the radioactive and nuclear material they had, the means to control it and the ways to reduce the risks it posed. Efforts focused on specific areas, strengthening States' legislative and regulatory infrastructure related to nuclear and other radioactive material to enable the country to fulfil its national and international obligations, nuclear security measures for nuclear and other radioactive material in use, storage and transport and their related facilities, States' capabilities for dealing with nuclear and radioactive material out of control of national regulatory control. EU funds were appropriated in response to a growing need for tighter control of nuclear and radioactive material and a better understanding of how to implement policies and procedures to ensure that effective nuclear security measures are in place. An additional region was added to each Joint Action, with Central Asia, South-Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South-East Asia being covered by EU Joint Action IV in 2008. EU Council Decision V expanded the reach of the programme to States in the Gulf, South America, the Caribbean and Middle America regions, with 126 States eligible for support worldwide.

1.3. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The EU has actively promoted the early entry into force of the Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), based on the relevant Council Decisions (1) in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and by conducting outreach efforts towards all countries that have not yet signed or ratified the CTBT, including the remaining Annex 2 States whose ratification is required for the entry into force of the Treaty. Based on its updated internal guidelines supporting the entry into force of the CTBT, the EU will continue to raise awareness of the CTBT in various contexts, including in political dialogue meetings, in order to create further momentum for the ratification of the Treaty.

The nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 12 February 2013 has clearly shown the real importance of the CTBTO Detection Stations Network, which is one of the projects that the EU is supporting through its Council Decisions. CTBTO teams have been mobilised for providing all countries that signed the CTBT with relevant hot-line data for feeding decision-makers. The nuclear test has also shown the importance of conducting exercises such as the Integrated Field Exercise to be organised in 2014 in Jordan to test and improve real detection systems. The efforts of the maintenance of the 321 seismic auxiliary stations assisted through Joint Actions from I to V, and the implementation of the CTBTO International Data Centre which collects, analyses and distributes data coming from the stations network will contribute to the necessary sustainability of the system.

1.4. Regional issues (Iran, DPRK)

The EU has remained fully committed to the ongoing efforts aimed at achieving a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiations, based on the NPT and the full implementation of all relevant UNSC and IAEA Board of Governors Resolutions. The EU has urged Iran to take concrete and practical steps aimed at building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, and to comply with all its international obligations in order to address the serious concerns of the International Community. During two rounds of talks held in February and April in 2013 in Almaty, the EU High Representative, together with the E3 + 3, has continued her efforts to engage Iran into discussions on the substance of a concrete proposal for an initial confidence-building step. In addition, an E3/EU + 3 technical experts meeting with Iran took place in March 2013 in Istanbul, aimed at providing further technical details on the confidence-building proposal put forward to Iran during the first Almaty meeting. Iran has so far failed to demonstrate a clear commitment to agree on a meaningful confidence-building step, based on the Almaty confidence-building proposal which would address the most urgent concerns regarding its nuclear programme. Iran's ongoing expansion of its sensitive nuclear activities, as reported by the IAEA, further increases international concerns. Moreover, serious concern persists that due to lack of sufficient Iranian cooperation for more than one and a half years, no progress was made in the IAEA efforts to resolve outstanding issues, including those related to possible military dimensions to the Iranian nuclear programme, and no agreement was reached on a ‘structured approach’ which should outline how to proceed with the clarification of those issues. Iran thereby continues to defy the requirements contained in the IAEA Board of Governors resolution adopted on 13 September 2012 with overwhelming majority.

Regarding the DPRK, the EU has continued to urge the DPRK to abide by its obligations assumed under the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including by abandoning all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. It strongly condemned the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 12 February 2013, which was an outright violation of its international obligations under the UN Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2087, and resulted in the adoption of UNSCR 2094. The EU has continued to call on the DPRK to return to full compliance with the NPT and IAEA safeguards obligations, and provide the IAEA with the requested access to individuals, documentation, equipment and facilities. The EU has constantly been supportive of the resumption of the Six-Party Talks process, and has called for DPRK to return to credible and authentic international negotiations. In addition to implementing UN Security Council resolutions, the EU has also introduced additional autonomous restrictive measures, including strengthened controls on dual use goods and the proliferation of conventional arms. The EU renewed its appeal to the DPRK urging it to ratify the CTBT and to refrain from any further provocative acts.

2. CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT (CD)/TREATY BANNING THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR OTHER NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

For the EU, the immediate commencement and early conclusion of the negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein remains a clear priority. Such a treaty constitutes an urgent necessity in the nuclear disarmament field as a complement to the NPT and the CTBT.

National security concerns, while legitimate, can and should be addressed as part of the negotiation process rather than as a prerequisite. Confidence-building measures could be taken immediately, without the need to wait for the commencement of formal negotiations. In this regard, pending negotiations and the entry into force of the treaty, the European Union calls on all States concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The EU reaffirms its commitment to engage in substantive discussions on all the other core issues included in CD/1864: on practical steps for progressive and systematic efforts to reduce nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal of their elimination, including on approaches toward potential future work of a multilateral character; on all issues related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as on other issues.

The EU reiterates the longstanding commitment of its Member States to the enlargement of the CD and looks forward to enhanced interaction between civil society and the CD.

The EU is deeply concerned by the continued dysfunction of a crucial part of the disarmament machinery: the ongoing stalemate in the CD. The EU remains strongly committed to the CD as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. The EU is ready to engage constructively with all partners to put the CD back on track and start substantial work, in accordance with the mandate by the UN General Assembly.

3. CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The EU played an active role in the Third Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which took place 8–19 April in The Hague. An EU statement was delivered and through active coordination among the EU delegations on the ground chaired by Ireland the EU objectives were promoted. The Review Conference was able to adopt by consensus a report which includes a number of issues which are priorities for EU (2), notably (i) completing the destruction of existing stockpiles; (ii) promoting universality of the CWC (eight states not yet parties); (iii) shifting to non-proliferation efforts; (iv) promoting capacity-building with regard to safety and security in the chemical industry in developing countries, in accordance with Article XI, and responding to the use of chemical weapons, under Article X. However, a number of EU and WEOG countries also expressed disappointment that the Review Conference was not able to adopt stronger language on Syria and on national implementation.

The EU also organised a successful side event on the cooperation with OPCW and the way forward.

In terms of implementation of the EU support, all countries which had been selected to receive grants utilised these to fill critical technical gaps, allowing these States Parties to make significant progress towards national implementation of the CWC. Additionally, as the only source of funding for this form of activity was from the EU, the Joint Actions/Council Decisions remain the only possible means of providing grants to tackle implementation shortcomings. From the 90 national implementation sub-projects carried out by the Technical Secretariat, about half could not have been performed without Joint Actions/Council Decisions funds.

As universality is concerned, in March 2013, Ideas and practical steps on EU action for promoting the universality and the national implementation of the CWC were adopted, which form the basis for work in this area in the coming period. In this respect, the EU démarches to the Governments of Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Somalia and South Sudan were conducted requesting those seven countries to adhere as soon as possible to the CWC. On 29 May 2013, Somalia deposited its instrument of accession to the CWC with the UN Secretary-General. Thirty days after, the Convention entered into force for Somalia and thus the country became the 189th State Party to the CWC.

Nineteen countries have joined the Convention since the first Joint Action was adopted and half of the countries that joined the Convention in 2005 (four out of eight) had been involved in a JA/CD-funded outreach activity, this was the case for all countries who joined during the following years.

4. BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

Following the Seventh BTWC Review Conference (Geneva, December 2011), the EU has engaged constructively in the intersessional process contributing with statements and specific working papers on: (i) international cooperation and assistance; (ii) strengthening of national implementation; (iii) capacity-building in bio-safety and bio-security. Further to the side event on the promotion of the Council Decision 2012/421/CFSP, which took place in the margins of the meeting of the States Parties held in December 2012, the Implementation Support Unit of the BTWC organised a workshop in June 2013, in Geneva, for EU experts assisting beneficiary countries with the objective of discussing best practices and appropriate preparations for assistance activities.

In terms of general output from EU support, it has made possible bringing together national and regional stakeholders through workshops, assistance visits, submission of initial CBMs by several States Parties, development of guide materials, embarkation on communication with some States not yet parties and others. The knowledge and awareness among professionals from the targeted States on the BTWC and its process was improved considerably as seen from the very positive feedback expressed by the participants in workshops. Moreover, the regional approach was highly appreciated as it laid the ground for enhanced regional networking and interactions with regional organisations. Regional organisations were actively involved in workshops and have shown an interest in future cooperation in future activities. The assistance visits successfully reached their goals, whether the visits were focused on awareness-raising among national stakeholders, building national networks or were focused on more specific aspects of national implementation such as legislation or CBM submissions.

The aims of the EU action included increased adherence to the BTWC in all geographic regions; an enhanced understanding of the BTWC among relevant national authorities and/or strengthened sub-regional networking in order to promote accession to the BTWC; and promotion of voluntary implementation of the BTWC prior to ratification/accession. The number of countries, which have consented to be bound by the Convention and its obligations, has increased. During the period 2009 to 2013, four States joined the Convention. Communication channels have been established with several other non-members in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which has laid a foundation for future activities.

The activities performed under the EU action further aimed to increase the appointment of national points of contact for CBM submissions, create or enhance national mechanisms for preparing and compiling information needed for CBM submissions, increase regular submissions of CBMs and improve technical/electronic tools for CBM submissions and security and maintenance of the CBM website. During the full implementation period of the EU action, 2009–11, 10 States Parties submitted their first CBMs. Of these, three received assistance for CBM submissions, two hosted EU-supported workshops, and four were sponsored to attend workshops organised under the EU action. The CBM Guidance Brochure produced through the EU support facilitated CBM submissions; the numbers of annual CBM submissions are the highest ever for the years 2010 and 2011.

5. MISSILES

The EU has strongly supported the Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (HCoC) since its inception and considers the Code as an important multilateral instrument aimed at curbing the proliferation of ballistic missiles systems and related technologies through transparency and confidence building measures. All EU Member States have subscribed to the Code. The EU has continued to pursue and support the three aspects of the Code: universality, implementation, and enhanced and improved functioning.

Based on the Council Decision 2012/423/CFSP in support to HCoC and missile non-proliferation in general, on 15 January 2013 the EU organised a commemorative conference in Vienna to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the HCoC. On 31 May 2013, in the margins of the HCoC Annual Regular Meeting, the EU organised an outreach event in Vienna, in support of the HCoC.

Good efforts were made to ensure EU visibility, including prominent participation of the EU Head of Delegation, clear references to the EU funding, which were echoed by nearly all speakers. Innovation introduced through live-streaming of the event and the discussions on the internet. Regarding the further implementation of the Council Decision, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS) is planning to hold an awareness-building session in Paris in early September, an outreach event in Geneva in late August or early September and another one in New York in mid-October, a regional seminar in Jakarta in late September and another one in Abu Dhabi in mid-December.

6. CBRN RISK MITIGATION

The EU has continued to progress with regard to the implementation of the EU CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Action Plan adopted in 2009 and supported by the Prevention of and Fight against Crime (ISEC) Programme. With the aim of coordinating the implementation of the EU CBRN Action Plan, the Commission is working with Member States through an Advisory Group on CBRN security. In order to maximise synergies between the implementation of the CBRN Action Plan and the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Enhancing the Security of Explosives, common structures are currently being set up.

Work undertaken in the framework of the CBRN Action Plan includes the Nuclear Security Training Centre — EUSECTRA — which was inaugurated on 18 April 2013 (Karlsruhe).

Furthermore, the Commission is engaged in assessing and enhancing detection technology for radioactive materials through the project ITRAP+10, is working on the analysis of existing radioactive dispersal modelling tools, and is considering the development of a virtual reality-based training tool for first responders in the area of radiological security. The Commission is also planning to extend its support to Member States in the laboratory analysis of radioactive materials. In addition, studies are ongoing taking stock of the implementation by EU Member States of the IAEA Code of Conduct on the safety and security of radioactive materials and the state-of-play of radioactive sources outside regulatory control in the EU Member States.

The ‘EU CBRN Centres of Excellence’ (CoE) Initiative, funded through the Instrument for Stability, was launched by the EU in May 2010. EU CBRN Centres of Excellence are being created in response to the recognition of insufficient institutional capacity of several countries to mitigate the CBRN risk: criminal activities (CBRN proliferation or terrorism), natural (zoonosis and epidemics) and accidental disasters (industrial accidents). Their objective is to develop an all-hazard CBRN policy at national and regional level to anticipate and respond to these risks. In short, these are structural measures to reduce the vulnerability of countries to the CBRN events in the reciprocal interest of regions and the EU security.

The way to achieve this objective is to support the creation of regional networks of expertise in the legal, regulatory, technical, control and enforcement matters regarding the CBRN risk mitigation.

Six regional centres are being established in: (i) North Africa (Algiers), (ii) Atlantic Façade (Rabat), (iii) Middle East (Amman), (iv) South East Europe — Southern Caucasus — R. Moldova — Ukraine (Tbilisi), (v) South East Asia (Manila) and (vi) Sub-Saharan Africa (Nairobi), and have started their work. The next step will see the opening of regional Secretariats in Central Asia (Tashkent — tbc) and Gulf Countries (Abu Dhabi). In addition to 33 projects adding up to EUR 26 million previously contracted, new projects amounting to around EUR 10 million are being contracted with different consortia, including from the Member States.

7. THINK TANKS

Based on the Council Decision 2010/430/CFSP of 26 July 2010, the EU's work under the EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has been actively supported by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium that started its activity in January 2011. Following the successful activities organised in 2012 (WMDFZ in the Middle East Seminar on 5 and 6 November 2012 and first Annual Meeting entitled ‘EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference’ on 3 and 4 February 2012) a new annual international conference on Non Proliferation and Disarmament will be held on 30 September and 1 October 2013 preceded by the EU Second Consultative meeting held on 17 and 18 June 2013. In the meantime, the Consortium stepped up its research activities, in cooperation with other European think tanks in the field, and published working papers relevant to the implementation of the WMD Non-proliferation strategy, available on the Consortium's website (http://www.nonproliferation.eu/). Further contributions to the broader non-proliferation and disarmament discussion will be published.

8. UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1540 AND EXPORT CONTROLS

(a) UNSCR 1540

The EU had expressed, by signing a joint declaration with the United States on the margins of the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly (New York, 19 October 2011), its longstanding commitment towards pursuing the implementation of resolutions 1540 and 1977.

A new Council Decision in support of UNSCR 1540 that focuses on national implementation efforts was endorsed at working group level in February 2012 and will be adopted by the Council at the end of July 2013. It will resource the UNODA to organise regional workshops and country assistance visits.

The EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative contribute together with other EU funds, provided through the CFSP budget, to the objectives of the UNSC Resolution 1540 on the fight against illicit trafficking or criminal use of CBRN materials.

(b) Export Controls

Various activities supporting export controls have continued. At policy level, the European Commission issued on 17 January 2013 a report (Staff Working Document 2013/7) presenting the conclusions of the wide public consultation launched under the Green Paper on Export controls: ensuring security and competitiveness in a changing world. This report opens the way to a review of the EU Export control regime in 2013, with targeted and sectoral consultations of stakeholders, a dedicated ‘Strategic export control conference’ in June 2013 and the preparation of a Communication outlining the Commission's plans by the end of 2013.

On the regulatory side, discussions continued on the proposed amendment to the EU dual-use Regulation No 428/2009 with a view to expediting the updates of the EU dual-use control lists, with a view to concluding the first reading of the proposal. Export controls implementation was supported by two meetings of the Article 23 Coordination Group, as well as a joint meeting with the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) in February 2013 focusing on nuclear export and transfer controls. A ‘peer visit’ organised in Dublin in May 2013 brought together experts from Member States and provided a forum for a detailed exchange of views in the context of the export control policy review.

EU coordination took place to promote the agreed EU positions in the relevant meetings of the export control regimes held in the first semester (Nuclear Suppliers Group: Consultative Group in March 2013 and Plenary meeting in June 2013; Wassenaar Arrangement: General Working Group in May 2013; Australia Group: Plenary meeting in June 2013).

The objectives set forth for the regional seminars were successfully met. Active dialogue and interactive discussion were guaranteed. The seminars offered a platform for assessing further need of assistance. EU Member States had a unique opportunity to share experiences and to strengthen the regional approach to the implementation of UNSCR 1540.

Regulatory, border, export and customs control officials were the main target but also sub-regional organisations and agencies were involved where possible.

9. SPACE

Since 2007, the EU has been promoting the development of an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. This international and voluntary set of guidelines would strengthen safety, security and predictability of all space activities. Such guidelines should, among other things, limit or minimise harmful interference, collisions or accidents in outer space, as well as the creation of debris.

On 5 June 2012, the EU had introduced to the international community in Vienna a new draft, now also supported by a large number of countries outside Europe, which foresees that the International Code would be applicable to all outer space activities conducted by States or non-governmental entities. As the draft code would be voluntary and open to all States, it would lay down the basic rules to be observed by space faring nations in both civil and military space activities.

Following the meeting on 5 June 2012 in Vienna, the EU remains committed to continue the process of multilateral consultations to refine the draft Code in a transparent and inclusive process.

UN Member States were invited to Open-ended Consultations on the draft text that were held in Kiev on 16 and 17 May 2013, bringing together around 140 representatives from 61 countries. Following the meeting in Kiev, the EU plans to present to the international community an updated draft in the coming months and invite UN Member States to a second round of consultations before the end of 2013.

Under the Council Decision in support of the EU's proposal on the Code, implementing partner UNIDIR has organised regional seminars in South East Asia and Africa, which have served as platform of knowledge building of norms of behaviour in outer space and on the proposal for a Code itself. UNIDIR has also helped with the organisation of the first round of Open-ended consultations in Kiev.

10. WMD NON-PROLIERATION CLAUSES

The EU continued, in accordance with its WMD Non-proliferation strategy, to mainstream non-proliferation of WMD into its contractual relations with third countries.

Further progress was achieved in the negotiation of WMD non-proliferation clauses in relevant agreements between the EU and third countries, and in particular with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Thailand.

11. OTHER MULTILATERAL FORUMS

— G8

The EU played an active role in several meetings of the Non-proliferation and Disarmament Directors in preparing the G8 Summit Statement on non-proliferation and assisted in carrying out several demarches on the IAEA Additional Protocol and UNSCR 1540 national implementation, in association with the UK presidency.

The Global Partnership (GP), nine years after its creation in 2002, has expanded beyond the G8 to become a platform of coordination and cooperation, counting now 17 additional partners. At the Deauville Summit in May 2011, leaders have agreed to further strengthen biological security, 1540 implementation and nuclear security. The United States in 2012 and the United Kingdom in 2013 took this agenda forward, in particular by creating four new sub-working groups on biological security, chemical security, nuclear security and Centres of Excellence (CoE) under the GP Working Group. Bringing in (other) regional organisations as well as reinforcing regional ownership were important subjects of discussion. The EU Centres of Excellence, which were at the origin of the CoE sub-working group, continued to gain momentum within the G8 and the G8GP, in particular as a tool to facilitate exchange of information regionally and, possibly, avoid duplication among donors.

— Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT)

The EU, as an observer to the GICNT, has been actively involved — in particular through the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission — in the activities of the GICNT Implementation and Assessment Group (IAG), in all areas discussed (nuclear detection, nuclear forensics and response and mitigation). The EU has actively contributed to the substance of all reference documents of the IAG working groups, and delivered a statement at the GICNT Plenary held in Mexico City on 24 May 2013. Spain, an EU Member State, successfully ended its 3-year mandate as the first GICNT IAG Coordinator.

— Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)

The EU continues to support the objectives of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) as embodied first of all in the Interdiction Principles adopted in Paris in September 2003. On 28 and 29 May 2013, the Special Envoy participated in a High-Level Political Meeting in Warsaw on the 10th Anniversary of PSI and delivered remarks on EU's relevance to the achievement of PSI objectives.

12. POLITICAL DIALOGUE MEETINGS

Political dialogue meetings on non-proliferation and disarmament at working group level were organised with Russia (Moscow, 4 March 2013) and Ukraine (Brussels, 15 May 2013). The newly appointed Principal Advisor and Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament held a number of informal consultations with various actors in the margins of important events, including the ATT Conference held in March 2013 in New York (including Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, India, NATO, Nigeria, Mexico, Pakistan, United States, Venezuela, UNODA, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand), the Second NPT PrepCom held in April–May 2013 in Geneva (including Egypt, the League of Arab States, South Africa, Peru), and the Third CWC Review Conference held in April 2013 in The Hague (including the OPCW and the United States).

(1) Council Decisions 2010/461/CFSP of 26 July 2010 and 2012/699/CFSP of 13 November 2012.

(2) As referred to in Council Decisions 2012/166/CFSP of 23 March and 2012/712/CFSP of 19 November 2012.