Rozhodnutí Rady (SZBP) 2025/2354 ze dne 20. listopadu 2025 na podporu posílení činností mise Organizace pro zákaz chemických zbraní (OPCW) souvisejících se Sýrií a Ukrajinou a zvýšení operační účinnosti OPCW prostřednictvím družicových snímků

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) and Article 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

For the purpose of contributing to international peace and security, confidence and transparency, and to the implementation of the EU strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Union shall support mission activities related to Syria and Ukraine to ensure, through the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), effective responses to the risks of chemical weapons proliferation and use, also empowering States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) to ensure accountability in cases of use of chemical weapons, on the basis of the work and reports of the OPCW. The provision of satellite products and services by the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) seeks to enhance the capacities for those OPCW-mandated activities for security and verification accuracy with the following objectives:

(a) contributing to the full internationally verified elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme and establishing the facts and identifying the perpetrators related to the use of chemical weapons, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the OPCW;

(b) providing assistance consistent with the CWC to enable Ukraine to have the civil technical capabilities necessary to ensure that it can respond effectively to incidents involving chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, including on the battlefield in Ukraine; and

(c) expanding the OPCW’s operational capacities through imagery analysis, in support of OPCW-mandated activities, particularly with regard to Syria and Ukraine.

A detailed description of the Union-supported activities of the OPCW referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in the Project Document.

Council Joint Action 2004/797/CFSP of 22 November 2004 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 63 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2004/797/oj).

(1) On 12 December 2003 , the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (the EU Strategy), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation. The EU Strategy underlines the crucial role of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) and of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in creating a world free of chemical weapons.

(2) On 22 November 2004 , the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/797/CFSPCouncil Joint Action 2004/797/CFSP of 22 November 2004 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 63 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2004/797/oj). . That Joint Action was followed, on its expiry, by Council Joint Action 2005/913/CFSPCouncil Joint Action 2005/913/CFSP of 12 December 2005 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 331, 17.12.2005, p. 34 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2005/913/oj). , which in turn was followed by Council Joint Action 2007/185/CFSPCouncil Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP of 19 March 2007 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 85, 27.3.2007, p. 10 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2007/185/oj). . Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP was followed by Council Decisions 2009/569/CFSPCouncil Decision 2009/569/CFSP of 27 July 2009 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 197, 29.7.2009, p. 96 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2009/569/oj). ,Council Decision 2012/166/CFSP of 23 March 2012 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 87, 24.3.2012, p. 49 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2012/166(1)/oj). , 2013/726/CFSPCouncil 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 (OJ L 329, 10.12.2013, p. 41 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2013/726/oj). , (CFSP) 2015/259Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/259 of 17 February 2015 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 43, 18.2.2015, p. 14 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/259/oj). , (CFSP) 2015/2215Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2215 of 30 November 2015 in support of UNSCR 2235 (2015), establishing an OPCW-UN joint investigative mechanism to identify the perpetrators of chemical attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic (OJ L 314, 1.12.2015, p. 51 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/2215/oj). , (CFSP) 2017/2302Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2302 of 12 December 2017 in support of the OPCW activities to assist clean-up operations at the former chemical weapons storage site in Libya in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 329, 13.12.2017, p. 49 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/2302/oj). , (CFSP) 2017/2303Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2303 of 12 December 2017 in support of the continued implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) and OPCW Executive Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 on the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (OJ L 329, 13.12.2017, p. 55 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/2303/oj). , (CFSP) 2019/538Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/538 of 1 April 2019 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 93, 2.4.2019, p. 3 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/538/oj). , (CFSP) 2021/1026Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1026 of 21 June 2021 in support of the Cyber Security and Resilience and Information Assurance Programme of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 224, 24.6.2021, p. 24 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1026/oj). and (CFSP) 2021/2073Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2073 of 25 November 2021 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) through satellite imagery (OJ L 421, 26.11.2021, p. 65 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2073/oj). .

(3) Through the implementation of Decisions (CFSP) 2017/2303 and (CFSP) 2021/2073, the OPCW has come to rely on the unique information provided by the European Union Satellite Centre’s (SatCen) imagery analysis both for mission planning and information analysis. Consequently, there is a need to enhance the OPCW operational capacity through the continued provision of SatCen products and services in support of OPCW missions following the end of the implementation period of Decision (CFSP) 2021/2073.

(4) On 26 June 2023 , the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 of 26 June 2023 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (OJ L 168, 3.7.2023, p. 27 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1344/oj). . The activities referred to in Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 primarily relate to the OPCW’s support to Syria, including to non-routine missions.

(5) On 15 July 2024 , the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/1984Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1984 of 15 July 2024 in support of the Institutional Transitional Planning for Non-Routine Missions and Investigative Capacities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (OJ L, 2024/1984, 16.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1984/oj). , which focuses on the OPCW-mandated missions, such as deployments, technical visits, trainings and provision of equipment to relevant authorities in Syria. The activities referred to in Decision (CFSP) 2024/1984 primarily relate to the processing of data and knowledge transfer within the OPCW,

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the High Representative) shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

Technical implementation of the project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by the OPCW Technical Secretariat (the Technical Secretariat). It shall perform that task under the responsibility and the control of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

Council Joint Action 2005/913/CFSP of 12 December 2005 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 331, 17.12.2005, p. 34 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2005/913/oj).

Article 1 Article 1 1.For the purpose of contributing to international peace and security, confidence and transparency, and to the implementation of the EU strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Union shall support mission activities related to Syria and Ukraine to ensure, through the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), effective responses to the risks of chemical weapons proliferation and use, also empowering States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) to ensure accountability in cases of use of chemical weapons, on the basis of the work and reports of the OPCW. The provision of satellite products and services by the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) seeks to enhance the capacities for those OPCW-mandated activities for security and verification accuracy with the following objectives: (a) contributing to the full internationally verified elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme and establishing the facts and identifying the perpetrators related to the use of chemical weapons, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the OPCW;(b) providing assistance consistent with the CWC to enable Ukraine to have the civil technical capabilities necessary to ensure that it can respond effectively to incidents involving chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, including on the battlefield in Ukraine; and(c) expanding the OPCW’s operational capacities through imagery analysis, in support of OPCW-mandated activities, particularly with regard to Syria and Ukraine. 2.A detailed description of the Union-supported activities of the OPCW referred to in paragraph 1 is set out in the Project Document.

Article 2 Article 2 1.The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the High Representative) shall be responsible for implementing this Decision. 2.Technical implementation of the project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by the OPCW Technical Secretariat (the Technical Secretariat). It shall perform that task under the responsibility and the control of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Technical Secretariat.

Article 3 Article 3 1.The financial reference amount for the implementation of the operational action referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 4447748,18. 2.The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to the general budget of the Union. 3.The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with the Technical Secretariat. That agreement shall stipulate that the Technical Secretariat is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, commensurate with the size of the contribution. 4.The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the 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 agreement.

Article 4 Article 4 1.The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Technical Secretariat. The High Representative 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 project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1.

Article 5 Article 5 1.This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. 2.This Decision shall expire 24 months from the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after its entry into force if that agreement has not been concluded by that time.

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the operational action referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 4447748,18.

The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to the general budget of the Union.

The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with the Technical Secretariat. That agreement shall stipulate that the Technical Secretariat is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, commensurate with the size of the contribution.

The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the 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 agreement.

Council Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP of 19 March 2007 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 85, 27.3.2007, p. 10 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2007/185/oj).

The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Technical Secretariat. The High Representative reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council.

The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the project set out in the Project Document referred to in Article 1.

Council Decision 2009/569/CFSP of 27 July 2009 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 197, 29.7.2009, p. 96 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2009/569/oj).

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

This Decision shall expire 24 months from the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after its entry into force if that agreement has not been concluded by that time.

Council Decision 2012/166/CFSP of 23 March 2012 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 87, 24.3.2012, p. 49 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2012/166(1)/oj).

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 (OJ L 329, 10.12.2013, p. 41 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2013/726/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/259 of 17 February 2015 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 43, 18.2.2015, p. 14 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/259/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2215 of 30 November 2015 in support of UNSCR 2235 (2015), establishing an OPCW-UN joint investigative mechanism to identify the perpetrators of chemical attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic (OJ L 314, 1.12.2015, p. 51 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/2215/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2302 of 12 December 2017 in support of the OPCW activities to assist clean-up operations at the former chemical weapons storage site in Libya in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 329, 13.12.2017, p. 49 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/2302/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2303 of 12 December 2017 in support of the continued implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) and OPCW Executive Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 on the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (OJ L 329, 13.12.2017, p. 55 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/2303/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/538 of 1 April 2019 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 93, 2.4.2019, p. 3 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/538/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1026 of 21 June 2021 in support of the Cyber Security and Resilience and Information Assurance Programme of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 224, 24.6.2021, p. 24 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1026/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2073 of 25 November 2021 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) through satellite imagery (OJ L 421, 26.11.2021, p. 65 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2073/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 of 26 June 2023 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (OJ L 168, 3.7.2023, p. 27 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1344/oj).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1984 of 15 July 2024 in support of the Institutional Transitional Planning for Non-Routine Missions and Investigative Capacities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (OJ L, 2024/1984, 16.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1984/oj).

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: