The European Union and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have adopted a cooperation agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “The OPCW was founded to put an end to and eliminate chemical weapons once and for all. Last year, it verified the destruction of the world’s last declared chemical weapons stockpile. However, we continue to witness the barbaric consequences of these heinous weapons. We still have work to do. With the signature of this new agreement, we are increasing our cooperation with the OPCW to safeguard and implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The objective is clear: a world free from chemical weapons for the sake of all mankind.”

The Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, said: “I express my sincere appreciation to the European Union for its continuous financial and political support to the activities of the OPCW. The present Memorandum of Understanding with the European Union will enable us to take further steps towards a better and more effective implementation of our mandates provided for under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the relevant decisions of the Policy Making Organs of the OPCW.  It also underscores our collective determination to eliminate chemical weapons and prevent their re-emergence in order to achieve our common goal of ridding the world of chemical weapons and advancing peace and global security.”

With this new agreement, the EU and the OPCW will increase their coordination, strategic cooperation and exchange of views and information to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in its post-chemical weapons destruction phase.

The agreement entered into effect upon signatures by High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias in Brussels and The Hague, respectively.

Background

The Memorandum of Understanding constitutes a formal framework for enhanced cooperation between the EU and the OPCW and establishes a high-level consultation arrangement on issues of mutual interest in achieving the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The MoU is legally non-binding and does not entail any financial commitments.

The EU is a strong and active supporter of the OPCW and the biggest contributor of voluntary funding of its activities towards the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. These activities include prevention of re-emergence of chemical weapons, capacity building of CWC States Parties, universalisation of the CWC membership as well as the fight against impunity for the use of chemical weapons.

The CWC is the world’s most successful disarmament treaty that has eradicated an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. In July 2023, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) verified the destruction of the world’s last declared chemical weapons stock.