Council Joint Action 2007/178/CFSP of 19 March 2007 in support of chemical weapons destruction in the Russian Federation in the framework of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Date: 2007-03-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU aid, Russia, chemical weapon, common foreign and security policy, cooperation policy, disarmament, non-proliferation of arms

L 81/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.3.2007

III

(Acts adopted under the EU Treaty)

ACTS ADOPTED UNDER TITLE V OF THE EU TREATY

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2007/178/CFSP

of 19 March 2007

in support of chemical weapons destruction in the Russian Federation in the framework 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:

2001/20493/CFSP (4),

in the Russian
non-proliferation and disarmament
Federation (2), which was continued by Joint Action
2003/20472/CFSP (3) which expired on 24 June 2004.
Decision
Joint
in
Action 1999/878/CFSP,
related
support of
to the
in Shchuch’ye
destruction of nerve
gases
(Russian Federation). This project was finalised on 28
January 2005.

infrastructure building
stored

included a first project

implementing

(1)

(2)

(3)

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

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
and on their Destruction entered into force in the
Russian Federation on 5 December 1997.

On 25 and 26 June 2002 in Kananaskis the G8 launched
the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons
and Materials of Mass Destruction, under which they
decided
cooperation projects,
specific
initially in the Russian Federation, to address non-prolif-
eration, disarmament, counter-terrorism and nuclear-
safety issues.

support

to

(4)

Council
Joint Action 1999/878/CFSP of 17 December
1999 established an EU cooperation programme for

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

The European Union continues to support the aim and
principles of the G8 Global Partnership initiative and
continues
reduction
activities and the safe and secure dismantlement of
WMD-related resources in the Russian Federation.

to promote

cooperative

threat

A multi-donor project to provide assistance towards the
destruction of Chemical Weapons at Shchuch’ye is
the United Kingdom.
by
underway,
Delivery of
scheduled for 31
October 2007.

coordinated
related equipment

is

The European Union continues to support the Russian
Federation in her pursuit of a safe and environmentally
sound dismantlement or reconversion of infrastructure,
equipment and scientific capabilities linked to weapons
of mass destruction (WMD).

On 12 December 2003 the European Union adopted its
strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction which, inter alia, promotes a stable interna-
tional and regional environment, as a condition for the
fight against the proliferation of WMD.

(2) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999, p. 11. Joint Action as amended by Decision

2002/381/CFSP (OJ L 136, 24.5.2002, p. 1).

(1) OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 3. Agreement as last amended by

Agreement of 9 July 2002 (OJ L 9, 15.1.2004, p. 22).

(3) OJ L 157, 26.6.2003, p. 69.
(4) OJ L 180, 3.7.2001, p. 2.

22.3.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 81/31

(9)

The European Union activities in support of the Global
Partnership will take place in parallel with activities by
others and will be coordinated to the greatest possible
extent to avoid unnecessary duplication.

The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in
2.
paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the
European Community procedures and rules applicable to the
general budget of
the European Union with the exception
that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the
Community. Expenditure shall be eligible as of the date of
entry into force of this Joint Action.

(10)

The Commission should be entrusted with the super-
the EU
vision of
financial contribution,

implementation of

the proper

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

3.
The Commission shall supervise the proper implemen-
tation of the EU contribution referred to in paragraph 1. For
this purpose, it will conclude a Financing Agreement with the
Secretary of State on conditions for the use of the EU contri-
bution. The financing agreement to be concluded shall stipulate
that the Secretary of State is to ensure visibility of the EU
contribution, appropriate to its size.

The objective of

this Joint Action is to support

the
1.
Russian Federation in its efforts
to destroy its chemical
weapons stockpiles under its obligations resulting from the
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction.

endeavour

The Commission shall

4.
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.

to conclude

2.
This Joint Action shall contribute to the construction of
the Shchuch’ye chemical weapon destruction facility in the
Russian Federation. Details of the specific project are set out
in the Annex to this Joint Action.

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. The
Commission shall be fully associated.

Article 4

to the
The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report
Council on the implementation of this Joint Action on the
basis of reports to be provided by the Secretary of State. The
Commission shall be fully associated and shall provide infor-
the project as
mation on the financial
referred to in Article 3(3).

implementation of

Article 5

The Council may decide to suspend the project if the Russian
Federation fails, in particular:

2.
The technical implementation of the project referred to in
Article 1(2) is entrusted to the Secretary of State for Defence of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
the United
acting on behalf of
the Ministry of Defence of
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
(hereinafter
referred to as the Secretary of State) who shall perform his
tasks under the responsibility of
the Presidency, assisted by
the SG/HR. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the
necessary arrangements with the Secretary of State.

(a)

to cooperate fully in the implementation of
Action;

this Joint

(b) to allow monitoring by the European Union and/or peri-

odical external evaluations and audits to that effect;

Article 3

1.
The financial reference amount for the project referred to
in Article 1(2) is EUR 3 145 000 to be funded from the 2007
general budget of the European Union.

(c)

to meet its obligations under the Agreement on Partnership
and Cooperation establishing a Partnership between the
European Communities and the Member States on one
part and the Russian Federation of the other part.

L 81/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.3.2007

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

Article 6

It shall expire 18 months after the conclusion of the Financing Agreement between the Commission and the
Secretary of State.

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

Article 7

Done at Brussels, 19 March 2007.

For the Council
The President

Horst SEEHOFER

22.3.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 81/33

ANNEX

EU — RUSSIA CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION PROJECT IN SHCHUCH’YE

1. Objective

To assist the Russian Federation in destroying some of its chemical weapons, towards fulfilment of Russia’s obligations
under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons
and on their Destruction.

2. Project description

The Joint Action shall commit funding in support of the Shchuch’ye chemical weapon destruction facility in the
Russian Federation and thereby contribute to the destruction of 1 900 000 million artillery and rocket munitions
containing some 5 500 tonnes of nerve agents, which are stored at Shchuch’ye awaiting destruction.

This Joint Action will support the requirement to complete the electricity supply infrastructure at Shchuch’ye chemical
weapon destruction facility. It will fund the procurement and delivery of major items of equipment which will
subsequently be installed at the Shchuchanskaya, Shumikha and Kurgan electricity substations located near the
town of Shchuch’ye and the destruction facility, in order to provide a reliable power supply for the operation of
the chemical weapon destruction facility. This equipment is essential for the completion of the electricity supply and
has been selected in order to ensure coherence with past EU projects and appropriate visibility of the EU funding
contribution. The project will be completed and ownership of the equipment will be transferred to the Russian
authorities by the end of 2007.

Construction of the destruction facility at Shchuch’ye is due to be completed, and operations are due to start, in mid-
2008.

This Joint Action forms part of the EU’s commitment under the Global Partnership and shall complement and
reinforce the value of the earlier project funded by the EU at Shchuch’ye.

3. Duration

The equipment procurement phase of the project will start on the day of the conclusion of the Financing Agreement
between the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, acting on
behalf of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commission.
The UK plans to fund the associated construction and installation work, subject to agreement of satisfactory prices.

The estimated duration of the project is 18 months.

4. Beneficiary

The Russian Federation.

5. Implementing entity

The Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, acting on behalf of
the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will be responsible for the
implementation of the project.

The implementing entity will prepare:

— A mid-term report after the first six months of the implementation of the project

— A final report one month before the end of the implementation of the project

Reports will be sent to the Presidency, assisted by the Secretary General of the Council/High Representative for the
CFSP.

L 81/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.3.2007

6. Estimated required means

This Joint Action will fund the following items for which there are firm prices in pounds sterling, but which are set
out below converted to EUR at the current exchange rate:

Serial

Description

Price

10

Relay panel for power line protection at Shchuchanskaya substation

10c

Supplier’s on-site installation support services

11

15

Equipment for Shchuch’ye Regional Electricity Supply Station including 18 m2
control panel and computing system

for the local energy supplier Kurga-
Electricity dispatch control equipment
Includes 50 m2
nEnergo.
system for
Zapadnyy substation and dispatch control equipment for various other related
substations

control panel,

computer

control

24

Cabinet for protection of 220 kV busbar at Shumikha substation

Sub-total

EUR 3 034 680

Bank charges

National Audit Office audit

Missions for Secretary of State (for visits to Shchuch’ye related only to the EU
project, if necessary)

EUR 1 000

EUR 6 000

EUR 10 000

Contingencies (around 3 % of the project cost)

EUR 93 320

Sub-total

EUR 3 051 680

Total

EUR 3 145 000

7. Financial reference amount to cover the total cost of the project

The total cost of the project is EUR 3 145 000.