On 12 December 2003 the European Council adopted the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation which need to be taken both within the Union and in third countries.

The Union is actively implementing that strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular by releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions, providing States in need with technical assistance and expertise with regard to a wide range of non-proliferation measures, and fostering the role of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

On 28 April 2004 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1540 (2004) (‘UNSCR 1540 (2004)’), which was the first international instrument to deal in an integrated and comprehensive manner with weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials. UNSCR 1540 (2004) established binding obligations for all States which aimed to prevent and deter non-State actors from obtaining access to such weapons and weapon-related material. It also called upon States to present the Committee of the Security Council established by UNSCR 1540 (2004) (the ‘1540 Committee’) with a report on steps which they have taken or intend to take to implement UNSCR 1540 (2004).

On 27 April 2006 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1673 (2006) and decided that the 1540 Committee was to intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) through programmes of work, outreach, assistance, dialogue and cooperation. It also invited the 1540 Committee to explore with States and international, regional and sub-regional organisations the possibility of sharing experience and lessons learned, and the availability of programmes which might facilitate the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004).

On 20 April 2011 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1977 (2011) and decided to extend the mandate of the 1540 Committee for a period of 10 years until 25 April 2021. It also decided that the 1540 Committee was to continue to intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation by all States of UNSCR 1540 (2004), to engage actively in matching offers and requests for assistance, through such means as visits at the invitation of the State concerned, assistance templates, action plans or other information submitted to the 1540 Committee and to conduct a comprehensive review on the status of implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) before December 2016.

On 15 December 2016 the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2325 (2016) and thereby endorsed the outcome of the comprehensive review process of UNSCR 1540 (2004) conducted during 2016. It called on all States to strengthen national measures in implementing UNSCR 1540 (2004) and called for greater assistance for building State capability in that regard, including through voluntary contributions, as well as for greater cooperation among stakeholders, civil society and academia.

The implementation of Council Joint Action 2006/419/CFSP, Council Joint Action 2008/368/CFSP and Council Decision 2013/391/CFSP contributed to diminishing significantly the number of non-reporting States and the number of States which did not submit additional information required by the 1540 Committee following their submission of incomplete reports.

The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), which is responsible for providing the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts with substantive and logistical support, should be entrusted with the technical implementation of the projects to be carried out under this Decision.

This Decision should be implemented in accordance with the Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement concluded by the Commission with the UN concerning the management of financial contributions by the Union to programmes or projects administered by the UN,