Council Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP of 19 March 2007 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

1 For the purpose of giving immediate and practical application to some elements of the EU Strategy, the European Union shall support activities of the OPCW, with the following objectives: 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, support for the creation of a collaborative framework among the chemical industry, OPCW and national authorities in the context of the 10th anniversary of the OPCW.

2 The projects of the OPCW, corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, shall be projects which aim at the: promotion of the CWC by carrying out regional, sub-regional and bilateral activities, 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, through the provision of grants aiming at capacity building and the enactment of national implementation measures as envisaged in the CWC, strengthening of the States Parties' capacities to respond and develop assistance and protection programmes against chemical weapons, establishment of a freely accessible database to allow national authorities and industry an easy identification of chemicals contained in the schedules of the Annex on Chemicals to the CWC, strengthening of international cooperation in the field of chemical activities to facilitate the development of the States Parties' capacities to implement the CWC in the field of chemical activities, support for an OPCW Industry and Protection Forum in the framework of the 10th anniversary of the OPCW, support for visits to chemical weapons destruction facilities (CWDFs) and/or CWDF construction sites in order to consider the progress and efforts made towards meeting the extended destruction deadlines. A detailed description of these projects is set out in the Annex.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the seven projects listed in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1700000, to be funded from the 2007 general budget of the European Union.

2 The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the European Community procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union with the exception that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper implementation of the EU contribution referred to in paragraph 1. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the OPCW on conditions for the use of the EU contribution, which shall take the form of a grant. The financing agreement to be concluded shall stipulate that the OPCW is to ensure visibility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Joint Action. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

1 The Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR), shall be responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action. The Commission shall be fully associated.

2 The technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be entrusted to the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW (hereinafter referred to as the Technical Secretariat), which shall perform this task under responsibility of the Presidency and under control of the SG/HR. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

1 The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Joint Action. The Commission shall be fully associated and shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

2 The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on regular reports to be provided by the Technical Secretariat.

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. It shall expire 18 months after the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 2(3).

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.