{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-2370/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-2370/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2017/2370",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2370 of 18 December 2017 in support of the Hague Code of Conduct and ballistic missile non-proliferation in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-2370",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2370\nof 18 December 2017\nin support of the Hague Code of Conduct and ballistic missile non-proliferation in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (‘the 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.\n(2)\nThe Union is actively implementing the Strategy and giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular by releasing financial resources to support specific projects aimed at enhancing the multilateral non-proliferation system and multilateral confidence-building measures. The Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (the ‘Code’) is an integral part of that multilateral non-proliferation system.\n(3)\nOn 17 November 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/805/CFSP. That Common Position calls on the Union to, inter alia, convince as many countries as possible to subscribe to the Code, especially those with ballistic missile capabilities, as well as for the further development and implementation of the Code, especially its confidence-building measures, and for the promotion of a closer relationship between the Code and the United Nations (UN) multilateral non-proliferation system.\n(4)\nOn 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’. The document states, inter alia, that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems continue to constitute one of the greatest security challenges and that non-proliferation policy constitutes an essential part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.\n(5)\nOn 18 December 2008, the Council adopted Decision 2008/974/CFSP in support of the Code in the framework of the implementation of the Strategy.\n(6)\nOn 23 July 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/423/CFSP. That Decision has allowed the successful promotion of the universality of the Code and compliance with its principles.\n(7)\nOn 15 December 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/913/CFSP. That Decision has helped raise the profile of the Code and thereby facilitated the subscription of new Members to the Code. It is a priority of the Union to continue the dialogue among subscribing and non-subscribing States with the aim of further promoting the universality of the Code as well as its better implementation and enhancement. This Decision should contribute to that process.\n(8)\nMore generally, the continued proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering WMD constitutes a cause of growing concern for the international community, in particular ongoing missiles programmes in the Middle-East, North-East Asia and South-East Asia.\n(9)\nThe United Nations Security Council (UNSC) emphasised in Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004), and recalled in UNSCR 1977 (2011) and 2325 (2016), that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constituted a threat to international peace and security and obliged States, inter alia, to refrain from supporting by any means non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. The threat caused by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery to international peace and security was reaffirmed in UNSCR 1887 (2009) on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Council Common Position 2003/805/CFSP of 17 November 2003 on the universalisation and reinforcement of multilateral agreements in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery (OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 34)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Council Decision 2008/974/CFSP of 18 December 2008 in support of the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 345, 23.12.2008, p. 91)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Council Decision 2012/423/CFSP of 23 July 2012 in support of ballistic missile non-proliferation in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and of the Council Common Position 2003/805/CFSP (OJ L 196, 24.7.2012, p. 74)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "Council Decision 2014/913/CFSP of 15 December 2014 in support of the Hague Code of Conduct and ballistic missile non-proliferation in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 360, 17.12.2014, p. 44)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2017/2370/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:16.106033+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}