Council Decision 2013/726/CFSP of 9 December 2013 in support of the UNSCR 2118 (2013) and OPCW Executive Council EC-M-33/Dec 1, in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

• CELEX: Decision 2013/726/CFSP
• Articles: 6

Article 1

1.   The Union shall support the OPCW activities by contributing to costs associated with the inspection and verification of the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, as well as costs associated with activities complementary to the core mandated tasks in support of UNSCR 2118 (2013) and the OPCW Executive Council Decision of 27 September 2013 on the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and subsequent and related resolutions and decisions.

2.   The project supported through this Council Decision is the provision of situation-awareness products related to the security of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission, including the status of the road network through the delivery to OPCW of satellite imagery and related information products of the EU Satellite Centre (EU SATCEN).

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

Article 2

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

2.   The technical implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1(2) shall be entrusted to the OPCW. It shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the OPCW.

Article 3

1.   The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 2 311 842.

2.   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.

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

4.   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 financing agreement.

Article 4

1.   The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the OPCW. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation by the Council.

2.   The Commission shall provide the Council with information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the project referred to in Article 1(2).

Article 5

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

2.   It shall expire 12 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement between the Commission and the OPCW referred to in Article 3(3), or it shall expire on 10 June 2014 if no such financing agreement has been concluded before that date.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

ANNEX

EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORT OF THE UNSCR 2118 (2013) AND OPCW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EC-M-33/DEC.1, IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EU STRATEGY AGAINST PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Project:     Providing satellite imagery support to the OPCW within the OPCW-UN Joint Mission

Objective :

To support OPCW within the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in its tasks under relevant UNSRs and OPCW Executive Council Decisions, as well as the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Results :

Assessment of the status of the road network, in particular the identification of road blocks and areas of road movement difficulties and; reinforcement of situation awareness in the field related to the security of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission deployed in Syria and in regard to locations to be visited/inspected.

Activities :

Support to OPCW will be provided through delivery of up to 5 satellite imagery products of the EU Satellite Centre (EU SATCEN) per week for a total duration starting from the signing of the contract until 31 December 2014.

The UN and the OPCW will develop their activities in cooperation with relevant partners, including international organisations and agencies, to ensure effective synergies and avoid duplication.