Council Decision 2009/569/CFSP of 27 July 2009 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: to enhance the capacities of States Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention, and to promote universality by encouraging States not Party to join the Convention.

2 In this context, the projects of the OPCW, corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, shall be the following: Project I: National Implementation, Verification and Universality Activities: bilateral technical assistance visits training of customs officials on the technical aspects of the Convention’s transfers’ regime training of national escorts training of national authorities for the use of an electronic declaration tool challenge inspection field exercise Project II: International Cooperation Activities: analytical skills development course CWC and chemical process safety workshop Project III: Seminar — OPCW’s Contribution to International Security Dimension and Challenges Project IV: visits by representatives of the Executive Council to chemical weapons destruction facilities Project V: second session of the Scientific Advisory Board Project VI: seminar — OPCW’s contribution in the sphere of security and non-proliferation Project VII: preparedness of States Parties to prevent and respond to attacks involving chemicals Activities: table top exercise regional workshop on Article X of the Convention Project VIII: Africa programme Activities: bilateral technical assistance visits outreach activity — academic and training Institution — Kofi Annan Centre training of customs officials on the technical aspects of the Convention’s transfers’ regime outreach to States not Parties analytical skills development course outreach to industry — CWC and chemical process safety workshop regional workshop — Article X and issues of regional cooperation in the area of assistance and emergency response A detailed description of the projects is set out in Annex to this Decision.

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

2 Technical implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW (hereinafter referred to as the Technical Secretariat). It shall perform this task under the responsibility of the Presidency and under the control of the SG/HR. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

3 The Presidency, the SG/HR and the Commission shall coordinate regularly on the project, in accordance with their respective competences.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 2110000.

2 The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the Technical Secretariat. The agreement shall stipulate that the Technical Secretariat 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 Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement. The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series, notice of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Technical Secretariat. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council. The Commission shall be fully associated. It shall report on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

1 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

2 This Decision shall expire 18 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire 6 months after its entry into force if that financing agreement has not been concluded by that time.

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