Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/51Show full title

Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/51

of 18 January 2016

in support of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) in the framework of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (‘the EU Strategy’)(1), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation.

(2) The Union is actively implementing the EU Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular those measures related to the reinforcement, implementation and universalisation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).

(3) On 27 February 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP in support of the BTWC, in the framework of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction(2). Since the adoption of Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP, seven more States have become States Parties to the BTWC. Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP expired on 26 August 2007.

(4) In March 2006, the Council adopted an Action Plan on biological and toxin weapons, complementary to Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP in support of the BTWC(3). The Action Plan provided for an efficient use of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General investigation mechanism for alleged use of biological weapons.

(5) On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/858/CFSP in support of the BTWC, in the framework of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction(4). Three more States have become States Parties to the BTWC since the adoption of Joint Action 2008/858/CFSP, and several States benefited from assistance provided by Union experts.

(6) The Sixth Review Conference of the BTWC decided to establish the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), with a 5-year mandate (2007-2011), within the Geneva Branch of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UN ODA) in order to provide administrative support to meetings agreed by the Sixth Review Conference, as well as support for the comprehensive implementation and universalisation of the BTWC and the exchange of CBMs.

(7) On 18 July 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/429/CFSP(5), relating to the position of the European Union for the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the BTWC (hereinafter the ‘Seventh Review Conference’).

(8) The Seventh Review Conference decided to renew the mandate of the ISU for another 5-year term (2012-2016) and decided to expand its tasks to include the implementation of the decision to establish and administer the database for assistance requests and offers, and facilitating the associated exchange of information among States Parties, as well as supporting, as appropriate, the implementation by States Parties of the decisions and recommendations of the Seventh Review Conference.

(9) On 23 July 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/421/CFSP(6) in support of the BTWC, in the framework of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of WMD. Six more States have become States Parties to the BTWC since the adoption of Decision 2012/421/CFSP and several States benefited from assistance provided by Union experts.

(10) The objectives of Decision 2011/429/CFSP and Decision 2012/421/CFSP, in particular those aspects on which consensus was reached at the Seventh Review Conference, should be carried forward,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

Council Document 15708/03. Not yet published in the Official Journal, but available at http://register.consilium.europa.eu

(2)

OJ L 65, 7.3.2006, p. 51.

(3)

OJ C 57, 9.3.2006, p. 1.

(4)

OJ L 302, 13.11.2008, p. 29.

(5)

Council Decision 2011/429/CFSP of 18 July 2011 relating to the position of the European Union for the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their destruction (BTWC) (OJ L 188, 19.7.2011, p. 42).

(6)

Council Decision 2012/421/CFSP of 23 July 2012 in support of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), in the framework of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 196, 24.7.2012, p. 61).