The Code represents an important instrument for curbing the proliferation of ballistic missiles and related technologies through confidence-building and transparency measures. However, more needs to be done to support it, in particular with the aim of:

promoting the universality of the Code, and in particular the subscription to the Code by all States with ballistic missile and space capabilities; supporting the implementation of the Code in all its aspects; reinforcing the visibility of the Code.

The project provides for three types of activities:

preparing, designing, printing and distributing up to 1 500 leaflets describing Union support for the Code. The leaflet will also include: a description of the HCoC; the objectives of the HCoC; a description of the annual declarations, the pre-launch notifications and the voluntary observation visits; the European strategy towards the HCoC and the proliferation of WMD means of delivery; demarches to be fulfilled in order to subscribe to the Code; contact details for non-subscribing States; preparing, designing, printing and distributing up to 1 000‘welcome package’ printed booklets and a USB stick for outreach activities towards non-subscribing States, also recalling obligations for subscribing States. It will also be available online, covering all the necessary information about the Code and the relevant points of contact. The ‘welcome package’ will include the leaflet described in point (a); supporting and updating the HCoC secure Internet-based information and communication mechanism (‘electronic Immediate Central Contact’ — e-ICC), including through technical enhancement of the website in close cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

through wide distribution of the ‘welcome package’ during the various events, greater awareness achieved amongst partners of the value added of the HCoC, and of the role of the Union; more secure HCoC website enables improved exchange of relevant information amongst partners; use of the ‘welcome package’ by the HCoC Chair, the Austrian Secretariat (‘Immediate Central Contact’ (‘ICC’)), the Union and other partners as necessary in their outreach activities.

The beneficiaries of the project are both States subscribing to the HCoC and non-subscribing States.

The continued proliferation and operational use of ballistic missiles capable of delivering WMD constitutes a cause of growing concern for the international community, in particular ongoing missiles programmes in the Middle-East, North-East Asia and South-East Asia, including Iran and the DPRK.

More generally, the project will support a range of activities to fight against the proliferation of ballistic missiles, aimed in particular at raising awareness of the threat, stepping up efforts to increase the effectiveness of multilateral instruments, building support to initiatives to address those specific challenges and helping interested countries to reinforce nationally their relevant export control regimes.

The publication of two food-for-thought papers per year (4 for the duration of the project). Possible subjects could include:

the use of the existing WMD free zones as an example and a potential framework for further initiatives banning ballistic missiles; further multilateral steps to prevent the threat of missile proliferation and to promote disarmament efforts in the field of ballistic missiles, focusing in particular on possible confidence-building measures; export and transit control mechanisms; the role of Intangible Transfer of Technology (ITT) in the area of ballistic missiles.

Promoting multilateral efforts curbing missile proliferation including the HCoC and the MTCR increases the EU influence in the field of missile non-proliferation; encouraging the debate on new initiatives to strengthen the Code and the MTCR and open the door for further initiatives; fostering missile non-proliferation; at least 4 food-for-thought papers to be published; raising awareness about dual-use technology and knowledge transfer issues prevents unintentional transfer among Member States and increase global awareness of export control mechanism.

The Union and the Member States will benefit from the food-for-thought papers; wider distribution will be decided by the HR in close consultation with Member States in the framework of the competent Council Working Party. The final decision will be based on proposals by the implementing entity in accordance with Article 2(2) of this Decision.

The project will raise awareness of both missile non-proliferation and the HCoC by organising several events aimed at engaging non-subscribing States. To this end, events will be organised in Vienna and New York to engage the UN delegations in the margins of relevant events.

The project will provide for three types of events:

Financing of four outreach events (2 in each city) in support of both the HCoC and ballistic missile non-proliferation that will take place in two cities: in New York, in the margins of the UN General Assembly First Committee meetings or of the non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committees meetings; in Vienna, in the margins of the HCoC or other relevant activities of the UN in Vienna. Regarding the organisation of the seminars: each seminar will last half a day and will gather up to 80 participants from UN missions in New York and Vienna around a selected group of speakers and EU officials; up to 6 speakers will be invited; the HCoC acting Chair will be invited; restricted lunches or dinners aimed at engaging senior officials from selected countries led by an EU senior representative and experts will be organised and funded under this Decision. To this end, the implementing entity will propose for each event a list of countries, some of which will be non-subscribing States. This will allow the convening of senior representatives who deal with non-proliferation issues. Financing of three regional outreach seminars that could take place in Latin America (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico or a non-member in the Caribbean region), the Middle East (e.g. the Gulf countries, Bahrain, Qatar or Saudi Arabia) and Asia (e.g. Indonesia or Vietnam). The choice of the location will be made in agreement with the HR, in close consultation with Member States in the framework of the competent Council Working Party. The seminar will be dedicated to trends in missile proliferation and a focus on regional issues and will address the HCoC and practical information about being a subscribing State. Subscribing States of the region will be invited at governmental level in order to share their experience with non-subscribing States. The HCoC acting Chair will also be invited to deliver a statement and chair the session. The attendance could include officials, diplomats, military staff, international organisation representatives, EU representatives, academics, etc. Regarding the organisation of the seminars: each seminar will last one day; up to 50 persons could be invited to attend; the HCoC acting Chair will be invited to deliver a statement. Up to 10 targeted expert missions for non-subscribing States. They will mainly target the relevant industries, scientific community, export control experts and civil society representatives. In coordination with the European Union Centres of Excellence, two experts on ballistic missile non-proliferation from the implementing agency and an EU expert will conduct field missions in targeted countries. Possible destinations could include, but are not limited to Algeria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Thailand. The final list of countries will be decided in close cooperation with the HR, as well as the opportunity of joint demarches with the UN 1540 Committee outreach efforts. The attendance could include officials, diplomats, military staff, academics, industry, researchers, etc. from the visited country. Priority will be given to officials and political deciders, diplomats, relevant military staff, etc. Regarding the organisation of the seminars: each seminar will last one day; up to 25 persons could be invited; 3 experts will be invited; the HCoC acting Chair will be invited.

At least 4 outreach events to be organised in New York and Vienna; the 3 regional events have gathered an important diplomatic and academic community and allowed new perspectives on adhesions; 10 expert's missions were conducted in order to enhance the universalisation of the HCoC. Those missions have gathered at least 20 decision-makers and officials and increased the level of commitment from the officials and decision-makers in the visited countries; raising awareness of missile proliferation trends and more particularly on the Code with regard to non-subscribing States promote discussions on further efforts to curb missile proliferation; the project fosters the debate within and outside the Union on future initiatives; the project raises the profile of missile proliferation as a strategic challenge.

The main focus of these events will be non-subscribing States, although subscribing States might be associated with some events for policy reasons. Participants should be primarily governmental experts and senior officials.

The final choice of the beneficiary States will be made in consultation between the implementing entity and the HR in close consultation with Member States in the framework of the competent Council Working Party.