ANNEX Projects in support of a process leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTS

2.2. Project 2: Background papers

2.2.1. Purpose of the project
(a) to provide up to twenty background papers on topics covered by the seminar in support of a process leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East;
(b) to provide tools to understand the regional security landscape, including proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery and conventional issues;
(c) to identify possible 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;
(d) to identify ways to achieve further progress in the universalisation and implementation of international non-proliferation and disarmament treaties and other instruments;
(e) identify perspectives for peaceful nuclear cooperation in the context of countries' energy policy and needs.

2.2.2. Expected results of the project
(a) feeding ideas and suggestions to the seminar in support of a process of confidence building leading to the establishment of a zone free of WMD and their means of delivery in the Middle East and contribute to achieving a focused and structured discussion on all relevant issues;
(b) increasing the awareness, knowledge and understanding within civil societies and governments of issues related to a zone free of WMD and their means of delivery and regional security in the Middle East;
(c) providing political and/or operational policy options to governments and international organisations to facilitate the process towards the establishment of zone free of WMD and their means of delivery and regional security in the Middle East.

2.2.3. Description of the project
The project provides for the preparation of up to twenty background papers of five to ten pages each. The background papers will be prepared or commissioned by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium and do not necessarily represent the views of the Unions Institutions or the Member States. A call for papers aimed at encouraging the participation of experts from the region will be organised by the EU non-proliferation consortium.
The background papers will cover the topics discussed by the seminar in support of a process leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Every paper will frame political/and or operational policy options.
The background papers will be submitted to seminar participants, relevant bodies in the Union and the Member States, all Middle East countries, other interested countries, and competent international organisations. The background papers could be published on the website of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium.
The background papers could be collected together in one volume for a single publication, after the seminar.