Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2354 of 20 November 2025 in support of enhancing the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mission activities related to Syria and Ukraine and enhancing OPCW operational effectiveness through satellite imagery

1 For the purpose of contributing to international peace and security, confidence and transparency, and to the implementation of the EU strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Union shall support mission activities related to Syria and Ukraine to ensure, through the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), effective responses to the risks of chemical weapons proliferation and use, also empowering States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) to ensure accountability in cases of use of chemical weapons, on the basis of the work and reports of the OPCW. The provision of satellite products and services by the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) seeks to enhance the capacities for those OPCW-mandated activities for security and verification accuracy with the following objectives: (a) contributing to the full internationally verified elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme and establishing the facts and identifying the perpetrators related to the use of chemical weapons, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the OPCW; (b) providing assistance consistent with the CWC to enable Ukraine to have the civil technical capabilities necessary to ensure that it can respond effectively to incidents involving chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, including on the battlefield in Ukraine; and (c) expanding the OPCW’s operational capacities through imagery analysis, in support of OPCW-mandated activities, particularly with regard to Syria and Ukraine.

2 A detailed description of the Union-supported activities of the OPCW referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in the Project Document.

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

2 Technical implementation of the project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by the OPCW Technical Secretariat (the ‘Technical Secretariat’). It shall perform that task under the responsibility and the control of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the operational action referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 4447748,18.

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

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with the Technical Secretariat. That agreement shall stipulate that the Technical Secretariat is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, commensurate with the size of the contribution.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the 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 High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Technical Secretariat. The High Representative 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 project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1.

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

2 This Decision shall expire 24 months from the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after its entry into force if that agreement has not been concluded by that time.