Weapons of mass destruction: combating proliferation

KEY POINTS

UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)

This was the first international instrument dealing comprehensively with WMD. It sets out binding obligations on countries to:

• enforce national controls and adopt legislation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery;
• refuse all support to non-state individuals or bodies attempting to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use WMD.

On 30 November 2022, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2663 extending the mandate of the Committee set up in accordance with resolution 1540 (the 1540 Committee) for a period of 10 years until 30 November 2032. The committee engages actively with countries and relevant international, regional and sub-regional organisations on ways to implement Resolution 1540.

EU strategy

Adopted in 2003, the strategy is designed to prevent, deter, halt and, where possible, eliminate WMD programmes worldwide. Its basic principles are the following.

• Multilateralism. Strengthening international non-proliferation mechanisms and working to improve systems to verify violations of rules laid down in multilateral treaties.
• Prevention. Promoting a regionally and internationally stable environment by strengthening programmes to promote disarmament and incorporating the non-proliferation aim in all EU political, diplomatic and economic activities.
• International cooperation. Working closely with the UN and other international organisations and key partners such as NATO and the United States, and assisting non-EU countries in improving their procedures and fulfilling their obligations under multilateral conventions and regimes.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/654

This decision applies the following principles:

• making the best use of the experience from the Council of the European Union’s previous joint actions and Council decisions in support of the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004);
• taking account of countries’ specific needs and tailoring support;
• encouraging national and regional responsibility for the activities to ensure their long-term sustainability;
• building partnerships between EU Member States and non-EU countries to ensure synergies and complementarity;
• focusing on activities that bring concrete results in strengthening national implementation, enhanced assistance, awareness-raising and engagement on UNSCR 1540 (2004).

Its specific objectives are to:

• enhance the relevant national and regional efforts and capabilities to implement UNSCR 1540, primarily through training, capacity-building and assistance facilitation;
• strengthen the capacity of points of contact, cooperation and interaction between countries and the 1540 Committee;
• improve the implementation of voluntary national implementation action plans by supporting their development;
• develop sub-regional, regional and international cooperation;
• raise the awareness and involvement of relevant stakeholders and support the practical implementation of specific recommendations.

The decision supports the following activities:

• thematic capacity-building workshops and training focusing on Latin American, Caribbean, African and Asian countries and government officials;
• training regional points of contact, providing them with in-depth knowledge of Resolution 1540 and strengthening cooperation and communication between countries;
• developing national action plans with clear targets, timelines and division of responsibilities and tailoring assistance to identify and correct potential gaps;
• a virtual regional assistance conference to share experience in developing national plans and identifying opportunities, lessons learned and effective practices;
• two regional outreach conferences to raise awareness among policymakers and civil society;
• knowledge generation and dissemination by producing publications and webinars on implementation, potential and emerging threats and sharing best practices.

The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) links the EU project to the 1540 Committee and liaises and coordinates with other relevant EU programmes and projects under the following Council decisions:

• Council Decisions (CFSP) 2016/51, 2019/97, 2021/2072 and 2023/123) supporting the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention;
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1296 supporting strengthening biological safety and security in Ukraine;
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2108 supporting strengthening biological safety and security in Latin America;
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/732 supporting the UN Secretary-General’s mechanism for investigating alleged use of chemical, biological or toxin weapons;
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2072 supporting building resilience in biosafety and biosecurity through the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission is responsible for implementing the decision. He reports to the Council on its implementation using regular reports from UNODA.

The decision allocates a budget of €2,368,769.46 to the project.