Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1656
of 6 November 2020
on Union support for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the areas of nuclear security and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty of the European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the European Union Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (‘the Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures that need to be taken both within the Union and in third countries to combat such proliferation.
The Union is actively implementing the Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular through releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
On 17 November 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/805/CFSP1. That Common Position calls, inter alia, for the promotion of the conclusion of IAEA comprehensive safeguards agreements and Additional Protocols and commits the Union to work towards making the Additional Protocols and comprehensive safeguards agreements the standard for the IAEA verification system.
On 17 May 2004, the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/495/CFSP2.
On 18 July 2005, the Council adopted Joint Action 2005/574/CFSP3.
On 12 June 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/418/CFSP4.
On 14 April 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/314/CFSP5.
On 27 September 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/585/CFSP6.
On 21 October 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/517/CFSP7.
On 21 December 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/23838 and, on 8 June 2020, extended its duration through Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/7559.
On 8 May 2016, the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) entered into force. All EU Member States, as well as the Euratom Community, are Parties to the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (ACPPNM). The Union continues to promote its universalisation and effective implementation, including through support for the nuclear security activities implemented under the IAEA 2018-2021 Nuclear Security Plan.
Reaffirming that the responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with the State, the Union is committed to continue strengthening nuclear security through the implementation of both national security measures and international cooperation. The Union will continue supporting the work of the IAEA in assisting Member States, upon request, in establishing and improving effective and sustainable national nuclear security regimes. The Union support will thus be in line with the Ministerial Declaration and findings of the ‘International Conference on Nuclear Security – Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts’ (the ICONS Conference) which was convened at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna on 10 to 14 February 2020. It will continue contributing to the implementation of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan 2018-21, approved by the IAEA’s Board of Governors on 13 September 2017 and endorsed by the General Conference on 14 September 2017. The Union aims at maintaining the sustainability and effectiveness of the implementation of the previous Council Joint Actions and Decisions in support of the IAEA Nuclear Security Plans,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: