Council Joint Action 2006/419/CFSP of 12 June 2006 in support of the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 165/30

On 12 December 2003 the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation which need to be taken both within the EU and in third countries.

The EU is actively implementing this Strategy and is giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular through releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral institutions, providing technical assistance and expertise to States in need of a wide range of non-proliferation measures and fostering the role of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

On 28 April 2004 the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 1540, which is the first international instrument that deals with Weapons of Mass Destruction, their means of delivery and related materials in an integrated and comprehensive manner. It establishes binding obligations for all States aimed at preventing and deterring non-State actors from accessing such weapons and weapon-related material.

UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) called upon States to present a report to the Committee of the Security Council established by UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) (hereafter 1540 Committee) on steps they have taken or intend to take to implement the Resolution. Consequently, on 28 October 2004 the Presidency submitted, on behalf of the EU, the European Union Report on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004), while the EU Member States submitted their reports individually.

The EU has carried out démarches to third States to promote the submission of national reports under UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004). Preparation of the national reports requires considerable effort and technical knowledge on behalf of these States. Therefore technical assistance and an exchange of experience gained from the process of drafting national reports and from the adoption of measures to implement UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) can directly contribute to increased compliance with the reporting obligation under the Resolution and to its actual implementation.

On 27 April 2006 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1673 (2006), which extended the mandate of the 1540 Committee for a period of two years, and decided that the Committee should intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) through a work programme, outreach, assistance and cooperation. It also invited the 1540 Committee to explore with States and international, regional and sub-regional organisations the possibility of sharing experience and lessons learned, and the availability of programmes which might facilitate the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004).

The 1540 Committee's report recommended that the regional and sub-regional outreach activities be widened and intensified with a view to providing States, in a structured manner, with guidance for implementing the obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), taking into account the fact that 62 States have yet to submit their first national report and that 55 States which have submitted their first national report have yet to submit additional information and clarification requested by the 1540...