Council Decision 2012/662/CFSP of 25 October 2012 in support of activities to reduce the risk of illicit trade in, and excessive accumulation of, Small Arms and Light Weapons in the region covered by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

1 For the purpose of promoting peace and security, and effective multilateralism at global and regional levels, the Union shall pursue the following objectives: enhancing peace and security in the neighbourhood of the Union, by reducing the threat posed by the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of SALW in the OSCE region, supporting effective multilateralism at regional level by encouraging the action of the OSCE to prevent the excessive accumulation of, and the illicit trade in, SALW and their ammunition.

2 In order to achieve the objective referred to in paragraph 1, the Union shall undertake the following projects: organising a regional training workshop for relevant Participating States' officials responsible for brokering controls on SALW, security upgrades to SALW stockpile storage sites in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, the destruction of surplus SALW in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan to prevent their diversion to illegal trade, the introduction of a SALW inventory management application to improve stockpile, record keeping, and tracing of SALW and conventional ammunition in several Participating States. A detailed description of these 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 The technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by two implementing agencies: (a) the OSCE Secretariat shall implement: the regional training workshop for relevant Participating States' officials on brokering controls on SALW, the security upgrades to stockpile depots of conventional weapons and ammunition in Kyrgyzstan, the destruction of surplus SALW in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan to prevent their diversion to illegal trade, and the introduction of SALW inventory software to improve stockpile management, record keeping and tracing of weapons; (b) the United Nations Development Programme Office in Belarus (UNDP Belarus Office) shall implement security upgrades to stockpile depots of conventional weapons and ammunition in Belarus.

3 The OSCE Secretariat and the UNDP Belarus Office shall perform their tasks under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the OSCE Secretariat and the UNDP Belarus Office.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1680000.

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 Union.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For this purpose, it shall conclude financing agreements with the OSCE Secretariat and the UNDP Belarus Office. The agreements shall stipulate that the OSCE Secretariat and the UNDP Belarus Office have the obligation to ensure the visibility of the Union contribution, appropriate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreements 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 financing agreements.

The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the OSCE Secretariat and the UNDP Belarus Office. These reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

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

2 This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the financing agreements referred to in Article 3(3) or 6 months after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.