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,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

On 12 December 2003 the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (‘the EU Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation.

The EU Strategy underlines the crucial role of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (‘CWC’) and of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (‘the OPCW’) in creating a world free of chemical weapons. As part of the EU Strategy, the Union has committed itself to working towards universal adherence to key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, including the CWC. The objectives of the EU Strategy are complementary to the objectives pursued by the OPCW in the context of its responsibility for the implementation of the CWC.

On 22 November 2004 the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/797/CFSP^f1 on support for OPCW activities. That Joint Action was followed on its expiry by Council Joint Action 2005/913/CFSP^f2, which in turn was followed by Council Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP^f3. Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP was followed by Council Decisions 2009/569/CFSP^f4, 2012/166/CFSP^f5 and (CFSP) 2015/259^f6. Decision (CFSP) 2015/259 expired on 23 March 2018.

On 26 February 2018 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2018/294^f7, which provided for the extension of the duration of Decision (CFSP) 2015/259 in order to allow for continued implementation of the activities until 23 December 2018.

The continuation of such intensive and targeted assistance from the Union to the OPCW is necessary in the context of the active implementation of Chapter III of the EU Strategy. There is a need for further activities to enhance the capacities of States Parties to the CWC (‘States Parties’) in fulfilling their obligations under the CWC, the preparedness of States Parties to prevent and respond to attacks involving toxic chemicals and the international cooperation in the field of chemical activities. Further activities are also needed in order to support the ability of the OPCW to adapt to developments in the field of science and technology as well as to enhance the capacity of the OPCW to address the threat of chemical weapons use. Measures related to the universalisation of the CWC should continue and be adapted to and targeted at the declining number of States not Parties to the CWC.

On 16 April 2018 the Council adopted conclusions laying down, inter alia, the position of the Union relating to the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (the Fourth Review Conference), held in The Hague from 21 to 30 November 2018.

The Union has provided political, financial and in-kind support to the OPCW operations in Syria aimed at the total destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and agents. Accordingly, on 9 December 2013 the Council adopted Decision 2013/726/CFSP^f8 in support of the activities of the OPCW in the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution (‘UNSCR’) 2118 (2013), the OPCW Executive Council Decision of 27 September 2013 on the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and subsequent and related resolutions and decisions. Decision 2013/726/CFSP was followed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2303^f9, adopted on 12 December 2017. Furthermore, on 30 November 2015 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/2215^f10 in support of UNSCR 2235 (2015).

On 27 June 2018 the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties adopted Decision C-SS-4/DEC.3 on addressing the threat from chemical weapons use. In its conclusions of 28 June 2018, the European Council committed the Union to supporting the outcomes of that Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: