Division 1 Objectives

The objective of this Decision is to confirm and further implement the policy recommendation, laid down by the Council on 8 December 2008 in a document entitled ‘New lines for action by the European Union in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems’. According to this document, the action of the Union to counter proliferation could benefit from the support provided by a non-governmental non-proliferation network, bringing together foreign policy institutions and research centres specialising in the Union's strategic areas while building on useful networks which already exist. Such a network could be extended to institutions in third countries with which the Union is conducting specific dialogues in connection with non-proliferation.

This network of independent non-proliferation think tanks would continue to encourage political and security-related dialogue and the long-term discussion of measures to combat the proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems and the inter-related issues of disarmament within civil societies, and more particularly among experts, researchers and academics.

The work of the network is to be extended to issues related to conventional weapons, including SALW, including measures to ensure the continuous implementation of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. The network will help to develop new facets of the Union's action to cover both the preventive and reactive dimensions of security issues related to conventional weapons, including the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of SALW and their ammunition, as foreseen by the relevant EU strategy. Preventing the illegal and unregulated trade of conventional weapons, including SALW, has also been recognised as a priority of the Union in the framework of the Arms Trade Treaty process.

The network could contribute to enhancing awareness of third countries of challenges related to WMD proliferation and conventional weapons, including the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of SALW and their ammunition, and of the need to work in cooperation with the Union and in the context of multilateral fora, in particular the United Nations, in order to prevent, deter, halt and where possible, eliminate proliferation programmes of concern worldwide and the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of SALW and their ammunition.

The Union wishes to support this network as follows:

• through organising regular Union seminars and, as necessary, ad-hoc meetings for diplomats and academic experts on salient events and issues in the realm of WMD and SALW non-proliferation and disarmament with a view to submitting reports and/or recommendations to the representatives of the HR;

• through organising major annual conferences and, as necessary, preparatory meetings with a view to submitting reports and/or recommendations to the representatives of the HR;

• through further maintaining, managing and developing an internet platform and related social networks to facilitate contacts and foster research dialogue among the network of non-proliferation think tanks;

• through facilitating competence and transfer of know-how on EU non-proliferation and disarmament policies across the Union and to third countries.