Council Decision (EU) 2025/646 of 27 March 2025 in support of facilitating a successful outcome of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Date: 2025-03-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU strategy, International Atomic Energy Agency, arms control, international convention, international cooperation, non-proliferation of arms, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear safety, the EU's international role, weapon of mass destruction




L_202500646EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/646


28.3.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/646
         
of 27 March 2025
         
in support of facilitating a successful outcome of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the European Union Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (the 2003 EU Strategy against WMD), which identifies support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a first priority for action at the international level, and calls for the preservation of the integrity and the universalisation of the NPT, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguard agreements, and the protocols attached to the NPT and the IAEA Safeguard agreements.












(2)


In accordance with the 2016 Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy and the 2003 EU Strategy against WMD, the Union’s actions continue to be grounded in the conviction that a multilateral approach to security, including disarmament and non-proliferation, is the best way to maintain international order and to uphold, implement and strengthen the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements.












(3)


Within the broader pledge to uphold, support and further advance the disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control framework, the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence adopted by the Council on 21 March 2022 reflects the shared commitment to continue to support the centrality of the NPT and stress the need to implement all obligations under it, as well as implementing commitments of previous Review Conferences of the Parties to the NPT, including the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI of the NPT, with the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons.












(4)


The Union is actively engaging in the current NPT review cycle. The current cycle will conclude with the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT, to be held in New York in April and May 2026.












(5)


The Union considers the NPT the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI thereof, and an important element in the further development of the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In this regard, the Council adopted Common Position 2005/329/PESC (1), Decision 2010/212/CFSP (2), Conclusions on the Ninth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (3), and Conclusions on the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (4).












(6)


The Union has consistently advocated more inclusiveness, as well as further developing the regional approach adopted in the previous review cycle, in the context of discussions on further strengthening the NPT review process,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1

1.   The Union shall support activities aimed at facilitating a successful outcome of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) 2026 Review Conference through promoting greater inclusivity and the consolidation of the regional approach in the current review cycle, while upholding and preserving the integrity of the NPT through a balanced focus on its three equally important and mutually-reinforcing pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.


2.   In order to achieve the objective referred to in paragraph 1, the Union shall support a project with regard to the 2026 Review Conference, with the following activities:






(a)


to organise up to four regional meetings in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East;










(b)


to organise two side events, one during the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee, and another during the 2026 NPT Review Conference, to inform on the results and conclusions of the abovementioned regional meetings; and










(c)


to support and ensure participation in the 2026 NPT Review Conference, through sponsorship of one delegate from the capital, from as many States Parties as possible, with a minimum of three.




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



Article 2

1.   The High Representative of the Union for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (the High Representative) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.


2.   The implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).



Article 3

1.   The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 988 941,12.


2.   The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.


3.   The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the financial reference amount referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with UNODA. The financing agreement shall stipulate that UNODA is to ensure the visibility of the Union’s contribution, appropriate to its size.


4.   The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties relating to that process and of the date of conclusion of that financing agreement.



Article 4

1.   The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by UNODA. The reports shall form the basis for the evaluation to be carried out by the Council.


2.   The Commission shall report on the financial aspects of the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2).



Article 5

1.   This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.


2.   This Decision shall expire 18 months after the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after the date of its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.





Done at Brussels, 27 March 2025.


For the Council


The President

P. HENNIG-KLOSKA
            





(1)  Council Common Position 2005/329/PESC of 25 April 2005 relating to the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (OJ L 106, 27.4.2005, p. 32, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/compos/2005/329/oj).

(2)  Council Decision 2010/212/CFSP of 29 March 2010 relating to the position of the European Union for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (OJ L 90, 10.4.2010, p. 8, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2010/212/oj).

(3)  Council conclusions on the Ninth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Council document ST 8079/15.

(4)  Council Conclusions on the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Council document ST 13243/21.




ANNEX
Facilitating a successful outcome of the 2026 Review Conference of Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Background

The current challenges to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are both well-known and serious. The current geostrategic environment has seen levels of risk rise, including the risk of nuclear weapons use and conflict. There are emerging signs of a possible new nuclear arms race. Geostrategic conditions are fueling nuclear proliferation drivers, and regional crises with nuclear implications could draw in nuclear-armed states with potentially catastrophic consequences.
However, the NPT’s value remains widely recognized and respected and there exists a shared awareness of the value of strengthening the Treaty and its review process. Success at the 2026 NPT Review Conference is realistic and achievable, but requires broad consultations and appreciation of the priorities of as wide a range of States Parties as possible, and a diverse range of stakeholders within States Parties, in particular those who may not have previously engaged deeply on the NPT.
Throughout its five-decade history, the NPT has proven itself robust and adaptable. It remains the most widely adhered-to multilateral disarmament agreement, for four key reasons:






—


Its legally binding nuclear disarmament obligations, including on the five nuclear-weapon States;










—


Its verifiable non-proliferation safeguards, overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency;










—


Its obligation to facilitate the peaceful benefits of nuclear science and technology, including the pursuit of sustainable development; and










—


Its near universal membership, 191 States have joined the treaty, meaning its provisions are binding on the vast majority of the international community.




Since the NPT’s indefinite extension in 1995, successive five-yearly Review Conferences have sought ways to strengthen implementation of the Treaty, including through practical steps and an action plan to ultimately achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. In 1995, 2000 and 2010, NPT Review Conferences adopted sets of commitments and obligations that strengthened the Treaty’s implementation across all three of its ‘pillars’ – disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses – and reinforced the grand bargain at its core.
However, the NPT Review Conferences in 2015 and 2022 failed to agree on a substantive outcome document. As a consequence, the NPT is at a crossroads.
Success at the 2026 Review Conference will reinforce the role of the Treaty as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with its Article VI, and an important element in the development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes. It will be critical in underscoring and reinforcing its enduring value; its role as the de facto multilateral negotiating body on all issues related to nuclear weapons; and its tangible security benefits.
A successful Review Conference will require a balanced approach to all three of the Treaty’s pillars. It will also require commencing preparations well in advance of the Conference and will benefit from a President with an understanding of the nuances of all States parties’ positions and who has earned their trust. Regular dialogue between States parties and the President-designate and his/her bureau, on how to overcome obstacles to success in 2026 is essential and was central to the drafting of the final outcome document in 2022 that was agreed by all States but one, notwithstanding a challenging international environment.
This can best be achieved through regional and on-the-ground engagement at the highest possible levels, as well as with experts in Geneva, New York and Vienna. Decision-makers in capitals, and across the range of government entities, have a clear interest in maintaining a strong NPT – whether they are parliamentarians, nuclear regulators or development agencies and ministries of defence. The critical step lies in understanding the positions of, and building support amongst, these diverse stakeholders.
Through the Tenth NPT Review Cycle, in the lead up to the 2022 Review Conference, the President-designate – thanks to the European Union’s generous support – undertook a series of regional consultations in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. These consultations were roundly welcomed by States of those regions as providing access to the Preparatory Committee chairs for capital-based experts, an opportunity for dialogue for States without the resources to maintain large delegations in New York, Geneva or Vienna, and important occasions for discussing key regional priorities. These consultations, in establishing a two-way conversation between the President-designate and regional governments, laid the ground for the support of all States parties except one for the draft outcome document in 2022.
Relatedly, a meaningful and successful outcome at the 2026 Review Conference will also require diverse and inclusive approaches, including on participation of delegations from as many States Parties as possible, in particular those from capitals, who previously may not have been able to participate. Starting from the premise that nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament negotiations are more successful and more durable when conversations allow for a diversity of States’ opinions and perspectives, the project proposes a sponsorship programme.
This net benefit for the Review Conference may be achieved through the sponsorship of travel, from their capitals, of delegates who would not otherwise be able to attend the Conference. In so doing, it would maintain the linkage between the on-the-ground outreach of the regional consultations through to the Review Conference floor in New York, and thereby the potential for more innovative and effective approaches to existing challenges.
1.   Project objective and goals

The objective of the project is to help facilitate a successful 2026 Review Conference that strengthens the implementation of the NPT across all three of its pillars. The project seeks to achieve that goal through a series of consultations in regional capitals that will a) help raise awareness among capital-based stakeholders about key issues facing the Treaty and b) ensure the leadership of the 2026 Review Conference develops a granular understanding of the priorities and concerns of all States Parties. Such an approach would build on the largely successful regional approach undertaken during the last review cycle, albeit with a broader array of stakeholders.
Main goals:






1.


To gain insight and understanding about concerns and priorities for the 2026 NPT review cycle, across a diverse range of stakeholders within all States Parties, including through ensuring inclusivity and diversity of participation at the Review Conference.










2.


To raise awareness about obstacles, but also potential areas for convergence based on the many benefits the NPT provides, including through the incorporation of a broader and more diverse array of voices, such as technical experts from regulatory agencies and scientific faculties, as well as decision-makers such as parliamentarians, with due consideration being given to ensuring gender balance of both experts and participants.










3.


To build trust and confidence between States and the President-designate in order to develop the strong relationships required for the Review Conference that will facilitate a successful outcome.










4.


To encourage flexibility and compromise from States in approaching the Review Conference, and to seek ideas for where to both achieve common ground and overcome divisions.










5.


To develop inputs for a strategy to produce a successful outcome at the 2026 Review Conference, including consideration of innovative ideas for what a possible outcome could look like that ensures the strengthened implementation of the Treaty.




2.   Activities

2.1.   Regional consultations

2.1.1.   Aim

The aim of each regional meeting is to enhance understanding of the current state of play, discuss options for cooperative engagement, generate solutions and build relationships to facilitate a successful conclusion to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
2.1.2.   Topics

Regional meetings in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, will cover all three of the NPT pillars and address the major issues affecting the NPT and its States parties, based on deliberations at the NPT Preparatory Committee sessions, and viewed through the lens of regional priorities and concerns. Issues will include but are not limited to: Implementation of commitments made in previous review cycles; bridging divides over how to achieve and maintain a world free of nuclear weapons; strengthening the non-proliferation regime; access to the benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, including for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals; and strengthening the NPT review process.
The regional meeting of NPT States Parties in the Middle East would cover all three of the NPT pillars. Additionally, it would address the implementation of the 1995 NPT resolution on the creation of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Recent events, such as recent developments in the region or the advent of the General Assembly-mandated Conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and the challenges this issue could pose to a successful outcome in 2026, justify such an approach.
2.1.3.   Format

The regional meetings will rely principally on interactive consultations. At each regional meeting, the President-designate will be given the opportunity to present the state of play on the review cycle. A series of questions will then be posed to States, with the aim of stimulating an interactive question-and-answer style engagement.
The meetings will also utilize panels of regional experts to generate discussion and ideas.
The same format would be used for additional meetings with non-governmental stakeholders.
Participation would be aimed at both expert and decision maker level.
2.1.4.   Location

The regional meetings are designed to support interaction with governments from specific regions in preparing for the 2026 Review Conference. The following four regional meetings are suggested:






Countries from regions/sub-regions:


Suggested venue:




Africa (2025)


Addis Ababa




Latin America/Caribbean (2026)


Mexico City




Asia-Pacific (2025)


Bangkok




Middle East (2026)


Amman




2.1.5.   Timing

The four regional meetings will be held in a ten-month period between June 2025 and March 2026. The exact timing and sequencing (i.e. the order of the regions covered) of the regional meetings will be determined by the implementing agency, in consultation with the President-designate of the Review Conference and the EU, taking into account the UN disarmament calendar. Each regional meeting will run for up to two days.
2.1.6.   Responsibilities of the implementing agency

Substantive preparation:






 


In consultation with the President-designate of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, the implementing agency will develop the substance of the regional meetings, and the agenda and selection of speakers / experts.




Logistics and meeting support:






 


The implementing agency, together with host regional States, will implement the logistical arrangements (booking venues, organising catering, audio-visual equipment, travel arrangements for participants and experts, etc.) for the regional meetings.




2.2.   Sponsorship

2.2.1.   Aim

To support and ensure participation, through sponsorship of one person per delegation, from as many States Parties as possible, and a minimum of three, in the 2026 NPT Review Conference, including through ensuring the participation of delegates from capitals who had traditionally not been in a position to do so.
2.2.2.   Approach / Criteria

Sponsored delegates would be selected from Least Developed Countries (LDC), Official Development assistance (ODA) recipient countries (based on Development Assistance Committee-List of ODA countries) or Small Island Developing States. Additional criteria for the sponsorship programme will be equitable regional representation and gender equity.
2.2.3.   Responsibilities of the implementing agency

The implementing agency will provide the necessary arrangements for travel and daily subsistence allowance for selected delegates to attend.
2.3.   Two side events

2.3.1.   Aim

One side event is envisioned to take place during the First Committee (UNGA80), and one will take place in the margins of the 2026 Review Conference itself.
2.3.2.   Topics

It is intended that the first side event, during the First Committee of UNGA80 will serve to provide an introduction and status review of the two regional consultations that will have taken place at that stage. This would include a briefing by the President-designate on the work undertaken to that point, including any preliminary results. The second side event, taking place during the Review Conference itself, would serve to share final results and conclusions. In order to increase the impact of the findings, this side event should take place early in the Review Conference, ideally during its first week.
2.3.3.   Format

The President-designate will brief States parties on developments and findings, outlining challenges and opportunities and suggesting possible approaches. The event would entail interactive Q&A sessions between the President-designate and attendees, intended to include delegates from States Parties as well as civil society.
2.3.4.   Location

UN Headquarters (NY)
2.3.5.   Responsibilities of the implementing agency

Substantive preparation:






 


In consultation with the President-designate, the implementing agency will develop the substance of the side events, as well as the agenda and selection of speakers / experts.




Logistics and conference services:






 


The implementing agency will implement the logistical arrangements (booking venues, organising catering, audio-visual equipment).




3.   EU visibility

The implementing agency shall take all appropriate measures to publicise that this project has been funded by the European Union. The Union’s support will be highlighted in public and closed presentations and briefings of the President-designate. The Union’s support will also be acknowledged in invitations and other written materials that are shared with the participants in the various activities. The implementing agency will ensure that the Union will be represented in all events that are supported within this project.
4.   Implementing agency

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch).
5.   Staffing – Project staff: Consultant at B/C level and part-time administrative support at G-5 level

In view of the limited staff capacity within UNODA’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch, it is envisioned that the support of a consultant at the B/C level (equivalent to a P3 staff member) and part-time at the G-5 level would be required to oversee the substantive and administrative/organizational aspects of the project. These will include developing the agendas and needed materials of the regional meetings, identifying and later collating the views of participants, preparing summaries of the meetings and providing inputs to the final report. Furthermore, the support staff will be responsible of the logistical arrangements, including venue booking and travel arrangements for participants and experts.
The staff members in question would report to the Chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch.



ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/646/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)