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
Date: 2003-06-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Russia, common foreign and security policy, cooperation policy, disarmament, non-proliferation of arms

26.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 157/69

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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

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
inter alia, expressed the European
on 20 June 2003, which,
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 agree-
ments and the strengthening of export controls,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

The Agreement on partnership and cooperation estab-
lishing a partnership between the European Commu-
nities 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 interna-
tional issues of mutual concern thus increasing security
and stability.

On 25 and 26 June 2002 in Kananaskis, Canada, the
leaders of the G8 nations launched the global partner-
ship 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, disarma-
ment, counter-terrorism and nuclear safety issues.

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
of WMD-related
dismantlement
resources in the Russian Federation.

secure

and

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.

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

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

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

(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.

Article 1

The European Union cooperation programme for non-
1.
proliferation and disarmament in the Russian Federation (here-
inafter 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-prolifera-
tion 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 disman-
tlement and/or reconversion of infrastructure and equip-
ment linked to its WMD,

— to provide a legal and operational

framework for an
enhanced European Union role in cooperative threat-reduc-
tion 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 recommenda-
tion 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 dura-
tion of the programme and subject to Article 5, with the task
of preparing the projects to be approved, as well as with super-
vising 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.

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

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The Commission shall be assisted by a unit of experts
2.
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.

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

The Commission shall continue to have a project assis-

3.
tance 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 neces-

sary for the implementation of the programme,

— monitor the expenditure of the funds committed for the

implementation of the programme.

Article 5

The Council shall regularly review the actions taken
to the programme. This review shall also assess

1.
pursuant
Russian capabilities to absorb and utilise increased assistance.

Independent evaluations and audit shall be conducted at

2.
periodic stages, depending on progress of the programme.

The Council may suspend the programme, if the Russian

3.
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 4

Article 6

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 680 000.

The management of

2.
the expenditure financed by the
amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the proce-
dures and rules of the Community applying to budget matters.

The European Union shall finance the infrastructure and

3.
current expenditure of the programme.

The Council and the Commission shall ensure appropriate
4.
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 appro-
priate by pertinent Community measures.

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of its adop-
tion.

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

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 157/71

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 assis-
tance 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 rela-
tions 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 Commu-

nity, 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.