Article 5

In addition to the objectives laid down in Article 1 and the priorities laid down in Article 2, the Union shall support the strengthening of the role of the ISU. In particular, the Union shall support:

1. (a)

   the prolongation of the ISU’s mandate for another five years;

2. (b)

   the following activities being included in the mandate of the ISU:

   1. (i)

      establishing a communication and information platform on policy, scientific and other activities relevant to the BTWC (setting up a ‘reference library’/electronic database for building awareness with States Parties, academia and industry);

   2. (ii)

      liaising and sharing information with other relevant international organisations;

   3. (iii)

      further strengthening the national implementation of the BTWC by facilitating the exchange of information and advice on national implementation;

   4. (iv)

      further supporting the CBM system by participating to a review process of the CBM declarations. Based on information supplied by means of revised CBMs, the ISU could be mandated to compile Article X of the BTWC related information into an online database;

   5. (v)

      developing a system to review scientific and technological developments and their impact on the BTWC;

   6. (vi)

      developing an action plan on universalisation;

3. (c)

   an adequate expansion of the current ISU staff in order to enable the ISU to carry out the activities referred to in point (b).