Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/938 of 6 June 2019 in support of a process of confidence-building leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East

For the purposes of advancing the Union's commitment to establishing a WMDFZ in the Middle East, and in order to provide follow-up to earlier Union activities in 2008, 2011 and 2012 and promote confidence building in support of a process aimed at establishing such a zone, the Union shall support activities to foster inclusive dialogue among experts and policymakers on a WMDFZ in the Middle East through, inter alia:

1. identifying lessons learned from efforts to advance the WMDFZ during the period 1996-2015;

2. building analytic capacity to support new thinking on regional security issues and the WMDFZ, including drawing on lessons from the establishment of other regional nuclear weapons-free zones;

3. collating ideas and developing new proposals on how to move forward on the issue.

In that context, the project to be supported by the Union shall cover the following specific activities:

1. Phase I

   The first phase of the project will focus on establishing networks of experts, outreach and communication, and framing the issues and themes to be explored. Key activities include:

   1. the establishment of an initial regional network of relevant experts and institutions;

   2. outreach, interviews and literature review and relevant documentation-gathering;

   3. a first meeting of the project reference group;

   4. a side event at the General Assembly First Committee in October 2019;

   5. a workshop, bringing together 15-20 members of the project's regional network and members of the project reference group;

2. Phase II

   The second phase of the project will focus on engaging with relevant individuals, experts, academic and policy researchers, and institutes in the region for the purpose of obtaining insights and perspectives on the issues and themes identified in Phase I as well as validation of the narrative on WMDFZ efforts between 1995-2015. Key activities include:

   1. up to 50 one-on-one interviews with individuals from within and outside the region;

   2. up to six small research institute-facilitated meetings of relevant experts in the region;

   3. a full draft of United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)'s report on the WMDFZ initiative in the Middle East to be made available to UN Member States and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs;

   4. a special event organised in the margins of the 2020 NPT Review Conference;

   5. a meeting organised at UN Headquarters in New York in 2020 to present relevant updates and findings of the project to UN Member states and other relevant stakeholders;

3. Phase III

   1. two multi-stakeholder workshops to consider the summary of options and recommendations on the way forward;

   2. publication of remaining briefing papers setting out those options and perspectives that have been identified as potentially promising for prospects for enhanced regional security cooperation, inter alia, via a WMDFZ in the Middle East;

   3. two workshops that bring together experts and officials acting in their personal capacities.

A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

Technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the UNIDIR, which shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For that purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNIDIR.

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 2 856 278.

The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.

The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with UNIDIR. The agreement shall stipulate that the implementing partner is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, appropriate to its size.

The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement.

The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of 6-monthly narrative reports prepared by UNIDIR. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council by the end of the project.

The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

It shall expire on 10 July 2023.