BRUSSELS, 10 January 2024 / PRN Africa / — Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova[1], the potential candidate country Georgia as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
Let me congratulate you, Ambassador Cristian Espinosa Cañizares, on assuming the role of Chair of the 2023 Meeting of States Parties (MSP). We are looking forward to your stewardship and assure you of our full support and cooperation in achieving the objectives of this Convention.
At the outset, we would like to extend our warm welcome to South Sudan as a new State Party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). It is encouraging to see that the Convention is nearing universality. We encourage the remaining twelve States to follow suit and join the Convention without any further delay.
Mr. Chair,
We reaffirm our unequivocal support for the BTWC as the legally-binding norm against biological weapons and cornerstone of international efforts to prevent biological agents or toxins from ever being developed, produced, stockpiled, or otherwise acquired and used as weapons. The EU appreciates the successful outcome of the Ninth Review Conference held last year. The establishment of the Working Group, tasked with discussing crucial topics to strengthen the Convention, constitute a significant achievement and provides a unique opportunity to ensure that the Convention becomes fit for the 21st century.
The EU’s primary focus is ensuring effective compliance with the provisions of this convention. We aspire to establish a robust mechanism to review scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention and to provide States Parties with sound and timely scientific advice. In addition, we emphasize the importance of addressing verification and compliance, transparency and confidence-building measures (CBMs), as well as national implementation and international cooperation. We anticipate that these initiatives will contribute significantly to the strengthening of the BTWC.
Mr. Chair,
We fully support the establishment of a Science and Technology Review mechanism, which has garnered widespread support from States Parties in recent years. Such a mechanism must be equipped to identify both existing and emerging risks associated with dual-use research and biotechnology and their potential implications for the implementation of the BTWC, along with its overarching goals and objectives.
It is our conviction that such a mechanism would benefit individual States Parties, especially those with limited resources for scientific and technological research.
In this regard, the EU supports a model with two bodies: a) an open-ended Scientific Advisory Group, open to all States Parties, and b) a limited-size Scientific Reporting Committee (up to 30 experts) whose members are nominated from the open-ended Scientific Advisory Group.
Mr. Chair,
We believe that transparency and confidence-building play a pivotal role in effective implementation of the BTWC in all its aspects. By sharing information on biological research, facilities, and activities relevant to the BTWC, States Parties can build mutual confidence and contribute to an enhanced cooperation and responsibility within the Convention. Submitting annual CBM reports is an important part of the exchange of information among States Parties and constitutes a political obligation for States Parties. We encourage States Parties to use the EU-funded assistance tools such as the CBM guide and the electronic CBM facility to submit their reports to the ISU.
The EU stresses that additional measures such as voluntary visits, management systems for biosafety and biosecurity, peer reviews, and other initiatives, can assist in further strengthening of confidence between States Parties.
Mr. Chair
The EU strongly advocates for a BTWC verification regime that would ensure transparency, compliance, and robust enforcement. A well-developed verification regime, coupled with transparent practices and robust national implementation, will strengthen the BTWC, reaffirm its normative enforcement, and contribute to a more secure and cooperative international environment.
A verification system should facilitate information sharing and build trust through the submission of national declarations harmonized with Confidence-Building Measures. Moreover, an effective inspection mechanism, with clear processes and criteria, should be put into place to respond to indications of non-compliance with Article I of the Convention.
The EU continues its unwavering support for the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons, underscoring its commitment to an independent international instrument. Establishing a direct link to the UNSGM would enhance the credibility of the BTWC verification system, fostering effective responses to alleged violations and facilitating the identification of the origin of a biological event.
Mr. Chair,
The EU also supports the development of a mechanism open to all States Parties to facilitate and support the full implementation of international cooperation and assistance under Article X.
For many years, the EU and its Member States have been providing assistance to and participating in cooperation projects with many BTWC States Parties. Through its Council Decisions, the EU currently provides nearly 10 million EUR in assistance to BTWC States Parties. In addition, the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative provides significant assistance to minimize risks emanating from the deliberate or accidental release of highly dangerous pathogens or toxins. This demand-driven initiative with a budget of over 140 million EUR for 2021–27 supports capacity building for CBRN risk mitigation in 64 partner countries around the world. In addition, the EU also provides support through the Global Partnership (GP) against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
We are pleased to announce that shortly we will adopt a new EU Council Decision in support of this Convention with the estimated budget of 2,8 million EUR. Furthermore, the EU has another project in the pipeline, building upon the previous initiative that supported the enhancement of biosafety and biosecurity in Latin America, implemented by the Organisation of American States (OAS). The project will support strengthening the legislative and regulatory frameworks for biosafety and biosecurity and raising awareness in beneficiary countries in Latin America.
Nevertheless, the EU will not support the establishment of a body under the Convention that would have a mandate to exercise oversight of either cooperation projects provided by States Parties or groups of States Parties, on national export control regimes by States Parties or on sanctions.
At the same time, the EU noted the decision of Russia to withdraw from the Eastern European Group and to establish a new regional group under the Convention, consisting of Russia only. The EU does not recognize a Group of One by Russia at the BTWC owing to the implications of any new group for geographical rotation of office holders and allocation of the various positions at the BTWC meetings. We reiterate our position that any departure from current arrangements based on the existing three-group system at the BTWC requires a consensus decision by all States Parties, which does not exist at the moment.
Furthermore, the EU also supports the operationalisation of Article VII, regarding assistance to States Parties that have been exposed to danger as a result of a violation of the Convention. Building on agreements reached at the Eighth Review Conference, which supported “the establishment of a database open to all States Parties to facilitate assistance under the framework of Article VII” as well as the establishment of guidelines for seeking assistance under Article VII, we particularly support the proposal by France and India to establish such a database. In addition, the EU supports the proposal by South Africa to have guidelines for States Parties for seeking assistance under Article VII and the adoption of a voluntary code of conduct for scientists, developed in cooperation with this community, as an element of an S&T review mechanism. The EU regrets that the Review Conference was unable to approve these proposals.
Mr. Chair
The EU recognizes the indispensable contribution of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) to the BTWC effective implementation and in facilitating States Parties’ compliance with their BTWC obligations. Its role is fundamental in enhancing the Convention’s operational capacity. We encourage further strengthening of the ISU’s role to ensure proper coordination and support for the decisions taken at the Review Conferences.
The EU is also fully committed to mainstreaming a gender perspective into all non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control work in line with UN Security council Resolution 1325, including though promoting the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and men, and providing integrated support where appropriate.
I thank you, Mr. Chair
[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
In addition, three EU positions were submitted as working papers in the third session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Convention. The working papers can be found through the following link.
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SOURCE European External Action