Council Decision (EU) 2017/2284 of 11 December 2017 to provide support to States in the African, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean regions to participate in the high-level fissile material cut-off treaty expert preparatory group consultative process

• CELEX: Decision (EU) 2017/2284
• Articles: 6

Article 1

1.   In accordance with the EU Strategy, which sets the objective of upholding, implementing and strengthening the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, the Union shall provide support to States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions to participate in the high-level fissile material cut-off treaty expert preparatory group consultative process.

2.   The projects providing support to States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions to participate in the high-level FMCT expert preparatory group consultative process, corresponding to measures in line with the EU Strategy, shall consist of sub-regional workshops, expert meetings, substantive support activities provided to United Nations Member States, and the establishment of a repository of relevant information and publications.

3.   The aim of the projects shall be:

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the facilitation of dialogue at the regional level among States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions;

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the development of a sense of ownership of the issue among States in these regions;

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the identification of the national needs and policy priorities of States in these regions;

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the involvement of relevant regional organisations in the discussions on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices to be negotiated in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament;

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the evaluation of the implications of the process at the regional level and of the role that relevant regional and international organization may play in that process;

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the comparative analysis of the implications of the process for each region;

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the facilitation of the transmission of knowledge between academia, civil society organisations and Member States relating to fissile materials.

4.   A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.

Article 2

1.   The High Representative (HR) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2.   The technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its Geneva Branch and its Regional Disarmament Branch, the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa (UNREC), Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). UNODA shall perform this task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNODA.

Article 3

1.   The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1 220 880,51.

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 general budget of the Union.

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 UNODA for the reference amount upon adoption of this Council Decision. The agreement shall stipulate that UNODA 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 UNODA. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council.

2.   The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

Article 5

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

2.   This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded by that time.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

ANNEX

1.   OBJECTIVE

There is a need for States to fully comprehend the implications of a future treaty and its relationship with regional instruments on nuclear weapons free zones, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other instruments at an early stage in the process. Therefore the overall goal of the new Council Decision should be to provide funding to build a broad knowledge base on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) among the international community, in order to ensure that all UN Member States are in a position to fully engage in the consultative process as well as in any future negotiations in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament on such a treaty.

Engaging UN Member States at the regional level will complement the informal consultative meetings that will be held by the Chair of the high-level FMCT expert preparatory group in New York, and thereby enhance the quantitative and qualitative participation of States, and strengthen the inclusivity of future negotiation in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament of such a treaty.

The organization of a series of (sub)regional workshops will allow the sharing of knowledge and information within regions, as well as across regions. The workshops will include a mix of technical briefings and discussions on the implications and relevance of these future treaties on existing regional arrangements. The technical briefings by relevant experts will elaborate on the substantive issues related to the FMCT while the discussions will lead the participants to considering the regional implications and relevance of an eventual treaty.

The high-level FMCT expert preparatory group will report to the UN General Assembly at its 73rd session (2018). The General Assembly may decide to take further action on this issue. In order to support participation of UN Member States in the discussion on this issue the project will continue until the end of the regular session of the 74th session of the General Assembly (December 2019).

The United Nations Office for Disarmament (UNODA), through its Geneva Branch and its Regional Disarmament Branch, which includes the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNREC) in Lomé, Togo, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) in Kathmandu, Nepal, and United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) in Lima, Peru, all have a long experience of lending support to States and fostering dialogue in their respective region on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

Experts will be drawn from several countries, on a broad geographical basis, from governments and regional organisations, as well as from civil society organisations, such as the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC), the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and academia.

Target 16.8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals recognizes the need: ‘to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance’. Therefore, the activities envisaged under this project could be a contribution towards this goal.

2.   ACTIVITIES

2.1.   Objectives of the activities

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To facilitate dialogue at the regional and sub-regional level among States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin American and Caribbean regions;

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To involve relevant regional organisations in the discussions on an FMCT;

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To develop a sense of ownership in a future FMCT among all States;

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To facilitate the transmission and application of knowledge between academia, civil society organisations and Member States on issues relevant to banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

2.2.   Description of activities

All activities will be organised by UNODA through its Geneva Branch and its Regional Disarmament Branch, including UNREC, based in Lomé, Togo, by UNRCPD based in Kathmandu, Nepal, and by UNLIREC, based in Lima, Peru.

(a)

Sub-regional workshops in Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean

UNODA will organise up to six sub-regional seminars in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions. UNODA will organise one or two two-day sub-regional seminars in each of the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions. The sub-regional seminars will focus on their respective regions.

The seminars will involve experts from the capitals of the countries of the respective sub-regions as well as high-level FMCT expert preparatory group, experts from the European Union, and from civil society and academia.

These seminars will complement the open-ended informal consultative meetings conducted by the Chair of the high-level FMCT expert preparatory group in New York in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 71/259 and will facilitate the involvement of experts from United Nations Member States at the capital in future FMCT negotiations.

(b)

Expert meetings with experts from regional organisations

UNODA will organise three expert meetings with relevant regional organisations in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions, including ABACC, AFCONE, OPANAL and the ASEAN Regional Forum, to bring together members of the high-level FMCT expert preparatory group, experts from regional organisations and experts from civil society organisations, including the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, VERTIC, IPFM, ISS, to prepare for future FMCT negotiations and to facilitate the contribution of regional expertise and experience into these negotiations.

(c)

Substantive support to Member States

UNODA will respond to up to six requests for substantive support from Member States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America Caribbean regions in follow up to the workshops, taking into account geographic balance.

(d)

Resource material repository and publication of outcomes

For the duration of the project, UNODA will develop and maintain a dedicated website containing relevant resource material, to help States prepare for future FMCT and to serve as a resource repository for States, regional organisations, civil society organisations and researchers, and to facilitate cross-regional communication.

UNODA will publish up to two UNODA Occasional Papers on the outcomes of the regional workshops and the expert meetings with regional organisations.

2.3.   Impact of activities

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The participation of States in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions in future FMCT negotiations will be facilitated;

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Existing regional knowledge and expertise on banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices will be brought to the negotiations of a future FMCT;

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Relevant resource material will be made available to future negotiators and to experts from States, regional organisations, civil society organisations and academia.

3.   PARTNERS FOR THE MEASURES

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UN System: UNODA through its Geneva Branch and its Regional Disarmament Branch, which includes the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa (UNREC), Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC);

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Regional and sub-regional Organizations: ABACC, AFCONE, OPANAL, ASEAN Regional Forum;

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Non-governmental organisations: EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, VERTIC, IPFM, ISS.

4.   INTERACTION WITH UNION EFFORTS

Based on the regular feedback from UNODA on its activities, the Union may decide to complement those efforts through targeted diplomatic action aimed at raising awareness of the importance of overcoming the longstanding deadlock in the Conference on Disarmament and the importance of the immediate commencement and early conclusion of the negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT), on the basis of document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein.

5.   BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACTIVITIES

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States in the Africa, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions;

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Members of the high-level FMCT expert preparatory group;

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Group of Governmental Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification;

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Civil society organisations in the African, the Asia-Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean regions working on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

6.   VENUE

The sub-regional seminars will be organised either at the location of the regional centres or at a location with a United Nations regional office in the respective sub-region, in order to facilitate the participation of national experts coming from the capitals.

The expert meetings will be held at the location of the regional organisations or the location of the regional centres.

Substantive support to Member States will be provided in the capitals.

7.   DURATION

The total estimated duration of the project is 36 months.