# Council Decision 2014/129/CFSP of 10 March 2014 promoting the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks in support of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Introduction: Introductory text

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Council Decision 2014/129/CFSP
of 10 March 2014
promoting the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks in support of the implementation 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 Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (hereinafter referred to as the ‘EU WMD Non-proliferation Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures that need to be taken both within the Union and in third countries to combat such proliferation.
(2)
The Union is actively implementing the EU WMD Non-proliferation Strategy and giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, such as developing the necessary structures within the Union.
(3)
On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted its conclusions and a document entitled ‘New lines for action by the European Union in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘New Lines for Action’) which states that proliferation of WMD continues to constitute one of the greatest security challenges and that non-proliferation policy constitutes an essential part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
(4)
In the New Lines for Action, the Council calls on competent Council formations and bodies, the Commission, other institutions, and Member States to give a concrete follow-up to that document.
(5)
In the New Lines for Action, the Council underlines that action of the Union to prevent 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.
(6)
On 15 and 16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition (hereinafter referred to as the ‘EU SALW Strategy’) which sets the guidelines for the action of the Union in the field of SALW. The EU SALW Strategy considers that the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition pose a serious threat to international peace and security.
(7)
The EU SALW Strategy identifies among its objectives the need to foster effective multilateralism so as to forge mechanisms, whether international, regional or within the Union and its Member States, for countering the supply and destabilising spread of SALW and their ammunition.
(8)
On 26 July 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/430/CFSP which established the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks and provided that the technical implementation of that Decision is to be carried out by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Consortium’).
(9)
The choice of the Consortium as sole beneficiary of a grant in this case is justified because of the will of the Union, as supported by the Member States, to continue a fruitful cooperation with a network of European think-tanks that is contributing to the creation of a common European culture on non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as helping the Union to develop and shape its policies in these areas and increase Union visibility. The very nature of the Consortium, which owes its existence to the Union and depends entirely on Union support, makes 100 % financing necessary in this case. The Consortium has no independent financial resources or legal authority to raise other funds. Moreover, the Consortium has established, beyond the four managing think tanks, a network bringing together more than 60 think tanks and research centres combining almost the entire non-governmental expertise in the Union.
(10)
To date, the Consortium has organized two Union expert seminars, in Brussels in May 2011 and June 2013, and two major international non-proliferation conferences, in Brussels in February 2012 and September/October 2013, in addition to having 31 dedicated policy papers published on its website. The website was launched in Spring 2011 and has been regularly updated since then, including via the publication of a bi-monthly e-newsletter: nonproliferation.eu. More than 60 European independent think tanks have joined the Consortium network since its inception.
(11)
By Council Decisions 2010/799/CFSP and 2012/422/CFSP, the Consortium was entrusted with the organization of two seminars to promote confidence building and in support of a process aimed at establishing a zone free of WMD and means of delivery in the Middle East, which were held in Brussels in July 2011 and November 2012. Furthermore, by Council Decision 2013/43/CFSP, the Consortium was entrusted with the organization of two closed seminars in order to facilitate the successful completion of the negotiation of an Arms Trade Treaty at the March 2013 UN Conference,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2014/129/introduction (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2014-129/introduction
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.