17.12.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 331/34

(1)

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

(2)

The objectives of the EU Strategy are complementary to the objectives pursued by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in the context of its responsibility for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

(3)

On 22 November 2004, the Council adopted a Joint Action on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (1), which was to expire one year after its adoption.

(4)

The continuation of such intensive and targeted assistance from the EU to the OPCW is necessary in the context of the active implementation of Chapter III of the EU Strategy, in particular those measures related to the universalisation of the CWC, and of the provision of financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions.

(5)

The Commission has agreed to be entrusted with the supervision of the proper implementation of the EU contribution,

—

promotion of universality of the CWC,

—

support for full implementation of the CWC by States Parties,

—

international cooperation in the field of chemical activities, as accompanying measures to the implementation of the CWC.

—

promotion of the CWC by carrying out activities, including regional and sub-regional workshops and seminars, designed to increase the membership of the OPCW,

—

provision of sustained technical support to States Parties that request it for the establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities and the enactment of national implementation measures as envisaged in the CWC,

—

international cooperation in the field of chemical activities through the exchange of scientific and technical information, chemicals and equipment for purposes not prohibited under the CWC, in order to contribute to the development of the States Parties capacities to implement the CWC.

(i)

promotion of universality of the CWC;

(ii)

support for implementation of the CWC by the States Parties;

(iii)

international cooperation in the field of chemical activities.

(i)

enhanced membership of the CWC in various geographical regions (in Africa, the Caribbean region, the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East);

(ii)

strengthened regional networking (involving relevant sub-regional organisations and networks in various areas relevant to the CWC).

(i)

workshop on the CWC and bilateral training and support for States not Parties in Africa (venue in an African State to be determined, first and third quarters 2006, two to three days, date to be confirmed). Participants to be sponsored from decision-making bodies in States not Parties, and relevant regional/sub-regional organisations e.g. African Union. Representatives from Angola, Central African Republic, the Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Somalia will be invited. A guest speaker from the EU would be most useful to brief participants on EU initiatives relevant to Africa on non-proliferation and disarmament relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Total estimated cost of event: EUR 56 000;

(ii)

workshop on the CWC for countries of the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East (venue to be confirmed, two to three days, second quarter 2006). Following the workshop held in Cyprus in 2005 with funding from the EU, which was attended, for the first time, by all States not Parties from the region, representatives from States not Parties (e.g. Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and other States not Parties that are members of the League of Arab States) will be invited. In addition, decision-making and advisory bodies in States not Parties, as well as key representatives from regional States Parties and organisations, will be invited. One or two guest speakers from the EU may be requested to brief participants on EU initiatives on non-proliferation and disarmament relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction, the political-security aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and export control measures implemented by the EU.

Total estimated cost of event: EUR 46 000;

(iii)

targeted sub-regional and bilateral training and support for States not Parties in the Caribbean (venue to be confirmed, two days, first and last quarters 2006). Representatives including from Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and regional/sub-regional organisations e.g. OAS, OECS, will be invited. A guest speaker from the EU would be most helpful to brief participants on EU initiatives on non-proliferation and disarmament relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Total estimated cost of event: EUR 24 000.

Total estimated cost of project 1: EUR 126 000.

(i)

continue to facilitate the establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities and the adoption of adequate implementation measures in all regions, through legal and technical assistance and implementation support to National Authorities;

(ii)

assist National Authorities in the national implementation process through capacity-building support;

(iii)

through an extended visit programme, provide a temporary OPCW presence in Africa to enhance national implementation under Article VII of the CWC in African States Parties;

(iv)

provide adequate information over transfers of CWC scheduled chemicals from territories under the jurisdiction of the National Authorities, as well as its wider dissemination to customs authorities in order to address any discrepancies in transfer data provided by States Parties.

(a)

assistance on all CWC-related matters, with particular emphasis on legal and technical aspects to meet the needs of requesting States Parties in order to assist them in fulfilling their Article VII obligations through bilateral visits or other appropriate formats. Such assistance will be provided by experts/resource persons from the OPCW staff with the inclusion of EU experts as necessary. The duration of each visit will be about five working days. There will normally be three experts for each visit. The duration of each visit and the number of persons travelling in each team will be determined on a case by case basis to meet the requirements of the assistance to be provided in the most cost-effective manner.

In addition, the EU will fund an extended visit programme to provide a temporary OPCW presence in Africa to assist African States Parties to fulfil their Article VII obligations. This presence will be established for a strictly limited period of time and its single purpose will be to foster national implementation in Africa.

Total estimated cost: EUR 225 000;

(b)

grants to National Authorities to support capacity building efforts for necessary national activities and infrastructure for the implementation of the CWC: a pilot project, to fund national implementation activities in selected National Authorities is to be initiated. The project in its pilot phase will provide funding for approximately 12 National Authorities, not exceeding EUR 15 000 for each of the National Authorities selected. The identification of specific tasks to increase capacities within National Authorities to improve the process of national implementation will determine the extent and nature of support to be provided.

Throughout 2005, the EU voluntary contribution has supported the OPCW’s effort to assist States Parties to fulfil their obligations in accordance with the Plan of Action regarding the implementation of Article VII obligations. Bilateral technical assistance visits have provided specific assistance to requesting States Parties. During such visits, identification of further activities to fulfil Article VII obligations, including the development of a country-specific action plan has been undertaken. The response to such bilateral technical assistance visits has been positive, with States Parties initiating activities to comply with their obligations and identifying specific areas for future assistance. In order to continue with the momentum generated in these States Parties for implementation, specific areas of assistance as identified by them may be supported with EU funds in 2006.

The specific areas for which assistance may be requested in the near future by States Parties include funds to conduct national awareness courses for personnel from relevant agencies, Departments and Ministries on the implementation of different provisions of the CWC, consultancy fees for legal experts drafting the national implementing legislation, publication and distribution of enacted legislation and regulations, translation of national implementing legislation and enforcement regulations into local language, establishing an office for the National Authority. These grants will not provide any financial assistance towards payment of salaries.

The pilot project addressing specific areas of assistance will be implemented to ensure that national capacity for implementing the provisions of the Convention is enhanced and tangibly contributes to progress expected to be made by the recipient States Parties.

Selection of National Authorities to receive grants will be undertaken on the basis of carefully identified criteria, including a demonstration of their ability to make quantifiable progress for the implementation of the provisions of the CWC and in accordance with a country-specific action plan developed during a bilateral assistance visit. A clearance mechanism for the selection of National Authorities and proposed consultants will be set up involving representatives of the EU Council Presidency, the Office of the Personal Representative of the High Representative on non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Commission Services and the OPCW. The grants should contribute towards making the National Authorities thus selected self-sustaining entities in subsequent years.

In order to receive such grants, the recipient National Authorities will need to provide the OPCW with quantifiable objectives to be accomplished as well as a clear time frame for their implementation with the use of the grants. As part of the contract, the recipient National Authority will be obliged to report its activities to the OPCW on a regular basis. The disbursement of grants will be made in instalments, with successive instalments being released after review of progress achieved. The OPCW will provide the EU with relevant details of progress by recipient States Parties as well as a financial statement on the use of the funds by each recipient State Parties.

Total estimated cost: EUR 180 000;

(c)

participation of National Authorities and customs authorities in one or more technical meetings in The Hague or in different regions on the transfers provisions of the CWC. This will allow for wider dissemination of information concerning these provisions. These meetings will involve, as appropriate, table-top exercises, discussions on scenarios and sharing of experiences by experts from the EU and other participating States.

Total estimated cost: EUR 180 000.

Total estimated cost of project 2: EUR 585 000.

Project purpose:

to facilitate the development of the States Parties’ capacities to implement the CWC in the field of chemical activities in accordance with Article XI thereof.

This project essentially focuses on the building of capacities through provision of support to analytical laboratories and training in the area of analytical skills.

Project results/activities:

Project description:

the EU contribution will focus on the following two aspects: