Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,

Whereas:

On 12 December 2003 the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (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.

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.

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’ (the ‘New Lines for Action’), which states that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (‘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).

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.

In the New Lines for Action, the Council underlines that action by 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.

On 15 and 16 December 2005 the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (the ‘EU SALW Strategy’), which sets the guidelines for action by the Union in the field of small arms and light weapons (‘SALW’). The EU SALW Strategy states that the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition pose a serious threat to international peace and security.

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.

On 26 July 2010 the Council adopted Decision 2010/430/CFSP^f1, 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 (the ‘Consortium’).

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 its fruitful cooperation with the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks, which is contributing to the creation of a common European culture with regard to non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as helping the Union to develop and shape its policies in those 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 70 think tanks and research centres combining almost the entire non-governmental expertise on non-proliferation and disarmament in the Union.

On 10 March 2014 the Council adopted Decision 2014/129/CFSP^f2, which extended for 3 years the Union's continued promotion and financial support of the activities of the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks and entrusted the Consortium with the technical implementation of that Decision.

On 3 April 2017 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2017/632^f3, which provides for the extension of the duration of Decision 2014/129/CFSP in order to allow for the continued implementation of the activities until 2 July 2017.

On 4 July 2017 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2017/1195^f4, extending the implementation period of Decision 2014/129/CFSP from 3 July until 31 December 2017 to allow for the organisation of one major annual conference on non-proliferation and disarmament in 2017 as well as for the continued maintenance and updating of the internet platform of the Consortium.

The names of the European network of independent non-proliferation think tanks and the Consortium will be adjusted to include ‘disarmament’ in line with the recommendations laid down in the European Parliament resolution of 27 October 2016 on nuclear security and non-proliferation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: