THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on 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:
The 2016 Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy (the ‘EU Global Strategy’) emphasises that the Union will step up its contribution to collective security.
The EU Global Strategy notes that the Union strongly supports the universalisation, full implementation and enforcement of multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control treaties and regimes.
One such instrument, namely the United Nations Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (the ‘CCW’), regulates the use in armed conflict of certain conventional arms considered to cause excessive suffering to combatants or indiscriminate harm to civilian populations.
The Union wishes to contribute to the universalisation, implementation and strengthening of the CCW so that it remains a strong and effective part of the multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control system.
The Sixth Review Conference of the CCW, scheduled for December 2021, is to determine the CCW’s priorities for the next few years, as well as the strategies and the mechanisms to translate such priorities into action.
The Union wishes to contribute to the efficient implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the Sixth Review Conference of the CCW,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The Union shall support the following projects:
Preparation for and follow-up to the Sixth CCW Review Conference;
Support for the universalisation of the CCW;
Facilitation of discussions on under-explored, emerging and cross-cutting issues of relevance to the CCW.
A detailed description of those projects is set out in the Annex to this Decision.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘HR’) shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.
The technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
UNODA shall perform its task under the responsibility of the HR. For that purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNODA.
The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 1 603 517,64.
The expenditure financed by the financial reference 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 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with UNODA. That agreement shall stipulate that UNODA is to ensure the visibility of the Union contribution in a manner appropriate to the size of that contribution.
The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the 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 doing so and of the date of conclusion of that agreement.
The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular quarterly reports prepared by UNODA. Those reports shall form the basis of an evaluation to be carried out by the Council.
The Commission shall report to the Council on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1.