9 Chemical Weapons
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| Joint Action to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons under the EU strategy against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
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| Legal base | Article 14 and 23.2 EU; QMV
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| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 25 January 2007
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| Previous Committee Report | None; but see HC34-xxxvi (2003-04) para 3 (10 November 2004)
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| To be discussed in Council | 12 February 2007 General Affairs and External Relations Council
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
9.1 The EU Policy on Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
(the EU WMD Strategy) follows on from the Thessaloniki European
Summit declaration on WMD proliferation. The EU WMD Strategy was
endorsed by the Council on 12 December 2003.
9.2 It responds to the judgement in the European
Security Strategy "A Secure Europe In A Better World"
of 8 December 2003 (likewise endorsed), which identified WMD proliferation
as the biggest of the new security threats faced by the EU[32]
and noted that "the most frightening scenario is one in which
terrorist groups acquire weapons of mass destruction. In this
event, a small group would be able to inflict damage on a scale
previously possible only for States and armies".
9.3 The Action Plan of the Strategy envisages "enhancing
political, financial and technical support to verification regimes".
9.4 The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) aims to
ban an entire category of WMD in a verifiable manner. The Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is the multilateral
institution which pursues the objectives of the CWC. The Joint
Action that our predecessors cleared on 10 November 2004[33]
provided for assistance to support the OPCW in its activities
in the framework of the implementation of the EU strategy against
Proliferation of WMD. The duration of the Joint Action was for
12 months, with the intention of annual renewal thereafter.
9.5 The Joint Action supported OPCW activities with
the following objectives:
— promotion
of universality of the CWC;
— support for full implementation of the
CWC by all States Parties; and
— international co-operation in the field
of chemical activities, as accompanying measures to the implementation
of the CWC.
9.6 The EU focus is on the building of the capacity
of National Authorities so as to enable them to implement the
CWC and to engage in the peaceful application of chemistry. OPCW
projects relevant to the EU Strategy were:
— the
promotion of the CWC by carrying out activities, including regional
and sub-regional workshops and seminars, aiming at increasing
the membership of the OPCW by establishing and developing contacts
with national representatives and highlighting the advantages
and benefits of adhering to the CWC, as well as associated obligations;
— assistance and technical support on
specific issues relevant to the preparation for accession to the
Convention;
— the provision of sustained technical
support to States Parties that request it for the establishment
and effective functioning of National Authorities and the enactment
of national implementing legislation as foreseen in the CWC; and
— international cooperation in the field
of chemical activities through the exchange of scientific and
technical information, chemicals and equipment for purposes not
prohibited under the CWC, in order to contribute to the development
of the States Parties' capacities to implement the CWC.
9.7 The Joint Action was renewed in November 2005
for a further twelve months. The proposal now is for a further
twelve month renewal.
The Joint Action
9.8 In addition to the ongoing activities outlined
above, this further support will provide and facilitate:
— assistance
and protection against chemical weapons by increasing the Organisation's
abilities to mobilise and coordinate international assistance.
The activity will include technical visits to States Parties and
training aimed at first responders involved in the field and development
of emergency response to use of chemical weapons. A particular
focus will be the North African region where currently no protective
capacity against chemical weapons exists;
— the updating of the scheduled chemicals
database for verification purposes to improve the identification
of chemicals and facilities for declaration purposes;
— an Industry and Protection Forum in the
framework of the Tenth Anniversary of the Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the entry into force of the
Chemical Weapons Convention. The Forum will aim to build synergies
and strengthen the collaborative framework between the chemical
industry, the Organisation and National Authorities; and
— support to visits to Chemical Weapons
Destruction Facilities (CWDFs) and/or construction sites in the
US and Russia, by Executive Council members who would otherwise
be unable to participate, aimed at the consideration of progress
and efforts made towards meeting the extended destruction deadlines.
9.9 On the financial aspects, the Minister explains
that the EU grant will continue to be managed in accordance with
the EC procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of
the European Union, with the Commission responsible for ensuring
the EU contribution is implemented properly, and will continue
to stipulate that the OPCW shall ensure visibility of the EU contribution.
Funds will continue to be provided from the CFSP budget; on this
occasion, the estimated cost is €1,744,700 (£1,178,851).
The UK currently contributes approximately 18% into the CFSP budget;
so the cost to the UK will be €314,046 (£212,193).
The Government's view
9.10 In his 25 January 2007 Explanatory Memorandum,
the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Mr Geoffrey Hoon) says that countering proliferation of Weapons
of Mass Destruction is Strategic Priority 1 for the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, and that the work carried out by the OPCW
continues to complement the UK's work towards achieving full implementation
of, and universal adherence to, the Convention by all States Party.
He accordingly welcomes continuation of this Joint Action, which
he says will continue to build on the work by the Organisation
as it addresses the threats and possible use of chemical weapons.
9.11 He notes that CWC membership continues to grow:
in November 2004, before adoption of the first Joint there were
164 States Party; now there are 181 States; he believes that the
EU's funding has contributed to this increase.
9.12 He says there has also been a concerted effort
to bring States up to par in their national implementation of
the obligations under the Convention; the OPCW Director-General
has noted that progress is being made, but that more needs to
be done.
9.13 Finally, the Minister says that the Organisation
will continue to carry out assistance and protection programmes
to improve national response programmes of Member States and establish
effectively functioning regional protection networks.
Conclusion
9.14 We have no questions to put to the Minister,
and clear the document. But in view of the importance of the subject,
we consider that a short Report to the House is appropriate.
32 Along with terrorism, regional conflicts, failing
states and organised crime. Back
33
See headnote. Back
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