Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 13(3) and Article 23(1) thereof,

Whereas:

On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (hereinafter referred to as the EU Strategy), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation.

The EU Strategy underlines the crucial role of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in creating a world free of chemical weapons. As part of the EU Strategy, the EU has committed itself to working towards universal adherence to key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, including the CWC. The objectives of the EU Strategy are complementary to the objectives pursued by the OPCW, in the context of its responsibility for the implementation of the CWC.

On 22 November 2004, the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/797/CFSP on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction^f1, followed on its expiry by Joint Action 2005/913/CFSP of 12 December 2005^f2 and Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP of 19 March 2007^f3. The latter will expire on 31 July 2009.

The continuation of such intensive and targeted assistance from the EU to the OPCW is necessary in the context of the active implementation of Chapter III of the EU Strategy. Measures related to the universalisation of the CWC should continue and be adapted and targeted to the declining number of States not Parties to the CWC. These activities should be complemented by new ones to support specific projects conducted by the OPCW aimed at the full implementation of the CWC and to enhance international cooperation in the field of chemical activities,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: