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Disarmament Documentation

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EU Summit, Thessaloniki, June 19-20, 2003

Presidency Conclusions, Thessaloniki, June 19-20, 2003, Excerpts.

Note: The EU Member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

VIII. EXTERNAL RELATIONS, CFSP AND ESDP EU Security Strategy

Iraq

91. The fall of the government of Saddam Hussein has paved the way for the people of Iraq to enjoy a peaceful, secure and prosperous future.

92. The European Council welcomes the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1483, which demonstrates a new spirit of co-operation within the international community. We believe that it provides the basis for effective international support for the initial stages of Iraq's political transition while ensuring adequate revenues for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction.

93. The European Council welcomes the appointment of Sergio Vieira de Mello as the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq. It looks forward to an important United Nations contribution to the process leading to the formation, as soon as possible, of a representative Iraqi government, in which the UN can use its unique capacity and experience in post-conflict nation building. It invites the Commission and Member States to support the UN Special Representative in the fulfilment of his mandate.

94. The European Union reiterates its commitment to the development of a prosperous and stable Iraq with a representative government and a thriving civil society with which it can develop mutually beneficial relations. The appointment of an Iraqi interim administration will be an important first step towards this goal.

95. The European Council welcomes the improving humanitarian situation but remains concerned by the continuing challenge to provide security to the civilian population. Law and order is a precondition for the sustainable reconstruction of the country. The European Council notes that certain Member States and Acceding Countries are contributing to creating conditions of stability and security in Iraq following UNSC Resolution 1483.

96. The European Union stands ready to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq within the framework of UNSC Resolution 1483. The European Council invites the Commission and the High Representative to submit proposals for an EU contribution.

97. The European Union will continue its active and substantial involvement in the field of humanitarian relief. It looks forward to the Donor's Consultative Meeting hosted by UNDP in New York on 24 June.

98. We reiterate our call on Iraq's neighbours to support stability in Iraq and in the region and our willingness to contribute through deepening dialogue and co-operation in all fields with the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Iran

99. The European council discussed developments in relations with Iran. On Iran's nuclear programme, it has taken note of the statement issued yesterday by the Chairperson of the IAEA Board of Governors. It reiterates its full support for the IAEA in its efforts to conduct a comprehensive examination of Iran's nuclear programme. It expresses serious concern at some aspects of the Iranian programme, in particular as regards the closing of the nuclear fuel cycle, especially the uranium centrifuge, announced by president Khatami. The European Council expects Iran to make good its commitment, reaffirmed at yesterday's IAEA meeting, to full transparency. It calls on Iran to be fully cooperative vis-à-vis the IAEA in all its nuclear activities and urgently and unconditionally to sign, ratify and implement an Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement. This would be a significant step towards creating the much-needed confidence.

100. The European Union will continue to monitor closely developments on this and all other areas of concern in its relations with Iran. It stresses in particular the need for significant positive developments on human rights, including the handling of the recent demonstrations, terrorism and the MEPP. It reiterates that progress in these matters and strengthened dialogue and cooperation are interdependent, essential and mutually reinforcing elements of EU-Iran relations.

North Korea

101. The European Council remains seriously concerned at North Korea's nuclear programme and its failure to comply with its IAEA safeguards agreement, which undermine the non- proliferation regime. The Council calls on North Korea to refrain from any action that would further aggravate the problem. It also urges North Korea to visibly, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programme, as a fundamental step to facilitate a comprehensive and peaceful solution, and to return to full compliance with its international non-proliferation obligations. The European Union reaffirms its readiness to contribute to a multilateral diplomatic solution to the crisis and expresses support for the Peace and Prosperity Policy followed by the Republic of Korea...

ANNEX II

DECLARATION ON NON PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

1. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery such as ballistic missiles is a growing threat to international peace and security. A number of states have sought or are seeking to develop such weapons. The risk that terrorists will acquire chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials adds a new dimension to this threat.

2. The European Union cannot ignore these dangers. WMD and missile proliferation puts at risk the security of our states, our peoples and our interests around the world. Meeting this challenge must be a central element in the EU external action, including the common foreign and security policy. Our objective is to deter, halt and, where possible, reverse proliferation programmes of concern worldwide.

3. Drawing on the Basic Principles already established, we are committed to further elaborate before the end of the year a coherent EU strategy to address the threat of proliferation, and to continue to develop and implement the EU Action Plan as a matter of priority. Our starting point will be a comprehensive and regularly updated threat analysis. Our approach will be guided by our commitment to uphold and implement the multilateral disarmament and non- proliferation treaties and agreements; our support for the multilateral institutions charged respectively with verification and upholding of compliance with these treaties; our commitment to strong national and internationally-coordinated export controls; and our commitment to co-operate with the United States and other partners who share our objectives. We recognise that appropriate steps towards the goal of general and complete disarmament can contribute to furthering non-proliferation objectives; and we are determined to play our part in addressing the problems of regional instability and insecurity and the situations of conflict which lie behind many weapons programmes, recognising that instability does not occur in a vacuum.

4. We have a wide range of instruments available: multilateral treaties and verification mechanisms; national and internationally-coordinated export controls; co-operative threat reduction programmes; political and economic levers; interdiction of illegal procurement activities; and, as a last resort, coercive measures in accordance with the UN Charter. While all are necessary, none is sufficient in itself. We need to strengthen them all, and deploy those which are most effective in each case.

5. The European Union has special strengths and experience to bring to this collective effort. In further implementing our Action Plan, we will focus in particular on:

  • universalising further the key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties, agreements and arrangements, and where necessary strengthening them, and in particular the means of ensuring compliance with their provisions. We emphasise that full compliance lies at the core of the co-operative approach to collective security and is a pre-condition for international stability and security;
  • enhancing our political, financial and technical support for agencies in charge of verification. In particular, we are determined to bring into force our IAEA Additional Protocols before the end of 2003;
  • fostering the role of the UN Security Council, and enhancing its expertise in meeting the challenge of proliferation;
  • strengthening export control policies and practices within the European Union and beyond, in co-ordination with Partners;
  • strengthening identification, control and interception of illegal shipments, including national criminal sanctions against those who contribute to illicit procurement efforts;
  • enhancing the security of proliferation-sensitive materials, equipment and expertise in the European Union against unauthorised access and risks of diversion;
  • reinforcing EU co-operative threat reduction programmes with third countries, targetted at support for disarmament, control and security of sensitive materials, facilities and expertise;
  • ways to deploy the EU's political, diplomatic and economic influence most effectively in support of our non-proliferation objectives. EU economic cooperation or development assistance with third countries should take account of WMD proliferation concerns;
  • setting up a unit within the Council Secretariat, which would function as a monitoring centre, entrusted with the monitoring of the consistent implementation of the Action Plan and the collection of information and intelligence.

6. We request the Council, as a matter of urgency, to take forward this work, on the basis of the Action Plan an drawing on the Basic Principles agreed on 16 June.

Source: the Council of the European Union website at http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm.

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