OPCW Director-General Welcomes Continued EU Support for OPCW Activities

The EU Council Decision 2009 supports concrete projects that will endorse and strengthen the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation measures of the CWC.

The OPCW has commenced implementation of the European Union (EU) Council Decision 2009 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (“the EU Strategy”) adopted on 12 December 2003.

The EU Strategy underlines the crucial role of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and of the OPCW in creating a world free of chemical weapons. As part of this strategy the EU has committed itself to working towards universal adherence to key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, including the CWC. The objectives of the EU Strategy are complementary to the goals pursued by the OPCW in fulfilling its mission as mandated by the CWC.

For the purpose of the implementation of the Council Decision 2009, the European Commission concluded a financing agreement with the OPCW Technical Secretariat. This agreement covers an implementation period of 18 months and provides for financial assistance amounting to € 2,110,000 for OPCW activities.

At the recent Fourteenth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC, the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, expressed his appreciation for the European Union’s continuing and generous support for the Organisation’s activities. He underscored that “the EU plays an active and visible role in supporting the OPCW to achieve the disarmament and non-proliferation goals of the CWC, and this support is absolutely essential in enabling the Secretariat to offer increased assistance to other Member States.”

The EU Council Decision 2009 supports concrete projects that will endorse and strengthen the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation measures of the CWC. The projects cover a wide range of OPCW activities including promoting universality and national implementation of the Convention, enhancing the capacities of States Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention, seminars inter alia on the OPCW’s contribution to international security dimensions and challenges, and activities promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry.

A unique feature of the Council Decision 2009 is the initiation of the “Programme for Africa”, a project that incorporates activities focusing on the specific needs of the African continent in the implementation of the Convention.

Through the Council Decision 2009, the EU has provided four consecutive voluntary contributions in support of OPCW activities. The previous three contributions have been granted in the context of the EU Joint Actions adopted respectively in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

OPCW NEWS 60/2009

Categories: Disarmament, International Cooperation, Non-proliferation of chemical weapons, Outreach