THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The European Union continues to regard the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the NPT and an important element in the further development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes.
(2) On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU strategy against proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, in order to steer its action in this field. On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted a document on ‘New lines for action by the European Union in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems’.
(3) On 12 December 2008, the European Council endorsed the Council’s statement on strengthening international security, reaffirming its determination to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and promoting concrete and realistic disarmament initiatives which the Union submitted at the United Nations General Assembly.
(4) The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1540 (2004), describing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery as a threat to international peace and security. On 12 June 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/419/CFSP(1), and on 14 May 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/368/CFSP(2), both in support of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and in the framework of the implementation of the EU strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
(5) The United Nations Security Council, meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government, unanimously adopted Resolution 1887 (2009), resolving to seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the NPT, in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all, calling upon all states that are not parties to the NPT to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States Parties, and calling upon States Parties to the NPT to comply fully with all their obligations and fulfil their commitments under the NPT and to cooperate so that the 2010 NPT Review Conference can successfully strengthen the NPT and set realistic and achievable goals in all the NPT’s three pillars: non-proliferation, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and disarmament.
(6) Since 2004, the Council has adopted several Joint Actions on support for International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) activities 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, most recently Joint Action 2008/314/CFSP(3).
(7) On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted Council Conclusions on an EU contribution of up to EUR 25 million for the establishment of an IAEA nuclear fuel bank.
(8) Since 2006, the Council has adopted several Joint Actions on support for activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation in order to strengthen its monitoring and verification capabilities. These include, most recently, Joint Action 2008/588/CFSP(4). In addition, the Council has promoted the early entry into force and universalisation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
(9) The President of the United States has convened a Summit on Nuclear Security, on 13 April 2010, to reinforce a commitment towards global nuclear security, including addressing the threat of nuclear terrorism.
(10) The 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the NPT adopted decisions on the indefinite extension of the NPT, on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and on strengthening the review process for the NPT, and a Resolution on the Middle East.
(11) The 2000 NPT Review Conference adopted a final document.
(12) On 25 April 2005, the Council adopted Common Position 2005/329/PESC relating to the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons(5).
(13) The Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference held three sessions, from 30 April to 11 May 2007 in Vienna, 28 April to 9 May 2008 in Geneva and 4 to 15 May 2009 in New York.
(14) In the light of the outcomes of the 2000 NPT Review Conference and of the 2005 NPT Review Conference and of the discussions at the three sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and bearing in mind the current situation, it is appropriate to update and develop further the objectives set out in Common Position 2005/329/PESC, and the initiatives carried out under its terms,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: