Council Joint Action 2008/368/CFSP of 14 May 2008 in support of the implementation of 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 127/78

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 States in need with technical assistance and expertise with regard to a wide range of non-proliferation measures, and fostering the role of the United Nations Security Council.

On 28 April 2004, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1540 (2004) (‘UNSCR 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. UNSCR 1540 established binding obligations for all States aimed at preventing and deterring non-State actors from obtaining access to such weapons and weapon-related material. It also called upon States to present the Committee of the Security Council established by UNSCR 1540 (‘the 1540 Committee’) with a report on steps which they have taken or intend to take to implement UNSCR 1540.

On 27 April 2006, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1673 (2006) and decided that the Committee should intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation of UNSCR 1540 through programmes of work, outreach, assistance, dialogue and cooperation. It also invited the 1540 Committee to explore with States and international, regional and subregional organisations the possibility of sharing experience and lessons learned, and the availability of programmes which might facilitate the implementation of UNSCR 1540.

The 1540 Committee's report in April 2006 recommended that regional and subregional outreach activities be widened and intensified with a view to providing States, in a structured manner, with guidance for implementing their obligations under UNSCR 1540, taking into account the fact that at that time 62 States had yet to submit their first national report and that 55 States which had submitted their first national report still had to submit additional information and clarification requested by the 1540 Committee.

On 12 June 2006, the European Union adopted a first Council Joint Action 2006/419/CFSP (1) in support of the implementation of UNSCR 1540 and in the framework of the implementation of the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. That Joint Action was aimed at raising awareness of the requirements related to UNSCR 1540 and at contributing to strengthening third States' administrative capacities in drafting national reports on the implementation of UNSCR 1540.

The implementation of Joint Action 2006/419/CFSP resulted in the organisation of five regional seminars in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asian-Pacific regions. These activities contributed to diminishing significantly the number of non-reporting States and the number of States which did not submit additional information required by the 1540 Committee following their submission of incomplete...