Council Decision 2010/799/CFSP of 13 December 2010 in support of a process of confidence-building leading to the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East in support of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

1 For the purpose of providing follow-up to the 2008 EU seminar on ‘Middle East Security, WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’, the EU shall support activities in order to further the following objectives: to encourage regional political and security-related dialogue within civil societies and governments, and more particularly among experts, officials and academics, to identify confidence-building measures that could serve as practical steps towards the prospect of a Middle East zone free of WMD and their means of delivery, to encourage discussion on the universalisation and implementation of relevant international treaties and other instruments to prevent the proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems, to discuss issues related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and international and regional cooperation in this regard.

2 In this context, the projects to be supported by the EU shall cover the following specific activities: (a) providing means for the organisation of a follow-up event related to the 2008 EU seminar on ‘Middle East Security, WMD Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’; (b) providing means for the preparation of background papers on subjects dealt with by the follow-up seminar. A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.

1 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2 Technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, which shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 347700.

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 Union budget.

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 EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. The agreement shall stipulate that the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium 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.

1 The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council.

2 The Commission shall provide information 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 agreements referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire 6 months after its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded by that time.