Article 1
1
For the purpose of providing follow-up to the 2011 seminar to 'promote confidence building and in support of a process aimed at establishing a zone free of WMD and means of delivery in the Middle East', the Union shall support activities in order to further the following objectives:
a
to support the work of the Facilitator for the 2012 Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction;
b
to enhance the visibility of the Union as a global actor and in the region in the field of non-proliferation;
c
to encourage regional political and security-related dialogue within civil societies and governments, and more particularly among experts, officials and academics;
d
to identify concrete 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;
e
to encourage discussion on the universalisation and implementation of relevant international treaties and other instruments to prevent the proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems;
f
to discuss issues related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and international and regional cooperation in this regard.
2
In this context, the projects to be supported by the Union shall cover the following specific activities:
a
providing means for the organisation of a follow-up event related to the 2008 and 2011 Union seminars, to be held before the 2012 Conference in the form of a track-2 seminar;
b
providing means for the preparation of background papers on subjects dealt with by the follow-up seminar;
c
providing means for the creation of a dedicated page on the website of the EU Non Proliferation Consortium of Think Tanks;
d
providing means for the participation of non-governmental experts from the Union, when necessary and in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS), to relevant official, non-governmental and track-2 initiatives, such as the Amman Framework.
A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
1
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.
2
Technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, which shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium.
Article 3
1
The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 352 000.
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 Union budget.
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 EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. The agreement shall stipulate that the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium is to ensure visibility of the Union 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 agreement.
Article 4
1
The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. Those 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 projects referred to in Article 1(2).
Article 5
1
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
2
This Decision shall expire 18 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreements referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded by that time.
Done at Brussels, 23 July 2012.
For the Council
The President
C. Ashton