Council Decision 2012/166/CFSPShow full title

Article 1 U.K.

1. For the purpose of giving immediate and practical application to some elements of the EU Strategy, the Union shall support activities of the OPCW, with the following objectives:

• to enhance the capacities of States Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the CWC,

• to enhance the preparedness of States Parties to prevent and respond to attacks involving toxic chemicals,

• to enhance international cooperation in the field of chemical activities,

• to support the ability of the OPCW to adapt to developments in the field of science and technology,

• to promote universality by encouraging States not Parties to join the CWC.

2. In this context, the Union-supported activities of the projects of the OPCW, which are in compliance with the measures of the EU Strategy, shall be the following:

• Project I: National Implementation, Verification and Universality

  Activities:

  • Bilateral technical assistance visits

  • Training courses for customs officials on the technical aspects of the CWC’s transfers’ regime

  • Grants to national authorities

  • E-learning tool for national authorities/associated stakeholders

  • Outreach to States not Party to the CWC

  • Investigation of alleged use exercises

• Project II: International Cooperation

  Activities:

  • Analytical skills development course

  • Industry Outreach — CWC and Chemical Process Safety Workshop

• Project III: Visits by representatives of the Executive Council of the OPCW and observers to chemical weapons destruction facilities (CWDFs)

  Activity:

  • Visits to CWDFs

• Project IV: Science and Technology

  Activities:

  • Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) working group meetings

  • Co-funding of an OPCW-International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) International Science and Technology Workshop

• Project V: Preparedness of States Parties to prevent and respond to attacks involving chemicals

  Activities:

  • Regional Workshops — Article X of the CWC and issues of regional cooperation in the area of assistance and emergency response

  • Table Top Exercises (TTEs) and exercise module

  • OPCW as a platform for enhancing security at chemical plants

• Project VI: Africa Programme

  Activities:

  • Bilateral technical assistance visits

  • Training courses for customs officials on the technical aspects of the CWC’s transfers’ regime

  • Industry Outreach — CWC and Chemical Process Safety Workshop

  • Analytical skills development course

  • Regional workshop — Article X of the CWC and issues of regional cooperation in the area of assistance and emergency response

  • Regional long-term capacity building project in the assistance and protection field

  A detailed description of the Union supported activities of the OPCW referred to above is set out in the Annex.

Article 2 U.K.

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 Technical Secretariat of the OPCW (hereinafter the ‘Technical Secretariat’). It shall perform this task under the responsibility and the control of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

Article 3 U.K.

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 2 140 000.

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 general budget of the Union.

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 Technical Secretariat. The agreement shall stipulate that the Technical Secretariat is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, commensurate with its size.

4. The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after 23 March 2012. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement.

Article 4 U.K.

The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Technical Secretariat. The HR reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

Article 5 U.K.

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

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

Done at Brussels, 23 March 2012.

For the Council

The President

C. Ashton