Council Decision 2013/517/CFSP of 21 October 2013 on the Union support for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the areas of nuclear security and verification and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

1 For the purposes of immediate and practical implementation of certain elements of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Union shall support the IAEA’s activities in the areas of nuclear security and verification in order to further the following objectives: (a) to achieve progress towards the universalisation of international non-proliferation and nuclear security instruments, including IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols; (b) to enhance the protection of proliferation-sensitive materials and equipment and the relevant technology, providing legislative and regulatory assistance in the area of nuclear security and safeguards; (c) to strengthen the detection of, and response to, illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials.

2 The projects of the IAEA, corresponding to measures of the Strategy, aim to: ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of support provided through previous Joint Actions and Council Decisions, strengthen States’ indigenous nuclear security support infrastructures, strengthen States’ legislative and regulatory frameworks, strengthen nuclear security systems and measures for nuclear and other radioactive materials, strengthen States’ institutional infrastructures and capabilities to deal with nuclear and radioactive materials out of regulatory control, support awareness of and strengthen States’ response and resilience to cyber-crime impacting nuclear security, develop additional laboratory capacity to support evaluation of industrial control and electronic system level technologies used to identify vulnerabilities to nuclear-related cyber-crime, and exploit and increase awareness of such issues, including through participation in regional exchanges, and the utilisation of compensatory or remediation measures. The selection of recipient States and projects shall be made by the Council on the basis of a comprehensive IAEA evaluation of needs and various other considerations with the aim of ensuring maximum impact of action. 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 (the ‘HR’) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2 The projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the IAEA as Implementing Entity. It shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the IAEA.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 8050000.

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 a financing agreement with the IAEA. The financing agreement shall stipulate that the IAEA is to ensure visibility of the Union’s 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 financing agreement.

1 The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the IAEA. These reports shall form the basis for evaluation by the Council.

2 The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. It shall expire 36 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement between the Commission and the IAEA or 12 months after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been concluded before that date.