EU Approves Joint Action in Support of the OPCW

The European Union (EU) adopted its Council's Joint Action to extend its support for the activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) within the overall framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Joint Action involves support to concrete activities that will endorse and strengthen the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation measures of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). This decision permits the EU to provide the OPCW financial assistance amounting to EUR 1,814,000 for its programmes dealing with universal adherence to the Convention, national implementation of the CWC by States Parties, and for international cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry. The EU financial assistance will support the OPCW's activities in these areas in 2005.

In the statement delivered on 29 November 2004 on behalf of the EU by H.E. Mr Marc Th. Vogelaar, Head of Delegation of the Netherlands at the 9 th Session of the Conference of States Parties, he noted that for the first time in the history of the EU, it is providing direct support to the OPCW and he further reiterated that the EU "supports and promotes the universal adherence to, and the implementation of, the objectives laid down in this Treaty". As an indication of the EU's firm support for the OPCW, Ms Annalisa Giannella, Personal Representative for Weapons of Mass Destruction of the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Council, attended the 9 th Session of the Conference of the States Parties.

The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Council, H.E. Mr Javier Solana, in his letter to the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, communicated the decision of the EU Council and noted that "the support to relevant international organisations is a main element of the EU Strategy for the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is therefore an important partner for the EU".

Ambassador Pfirter, commenting on this important EU announcement, stated that "this decision by the EU opens the way to solid and ongoing cooperation between the EU and the OPCW. The Organisation in this regard is most grateful to Mr Solana, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Council, for his political support. On behalf of the Organisation, I also wish to extend my gratitude through the Dutch Presidency to those representatives of the European Union who joined our efforts to bring this work to fruition".

69/2004

Categories: Eastern Europe, OPCW and the UN, Western Europe and Other States