EU Strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

If used, nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons cause immense human suffering. Their proliferation can trigger dangerous arms races. Even radioactive materials and potent chemicals that are used in energy production, medicine, and industry can become a threat if they are acquired by terrorists. Therefore, preventing the use and proliferation of WMD’s are top priorities for the European Union.

The EU strategy against WMD proliferation made non-proliferation a central goal of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), stating “our objective is to prevent, deter, halt and, where possible, eliminate proliferation of concern worldwide.” 

The promotion of multilateral solutions, a key principle of the EU’s external policy, remains a priority. We can only address the major global challenges of our era by working in partnership with others, whether States, international and regional organisations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in order to deliver results on issues important to our citizens.

The EU Annual Progress Reports show how we promote nuclear disarmament, fund civil protection and border control training, support international organisations like the IAEA and the OPCW to safeguard nuclear materials and eliminate chemical weapons, and more.  This is the most recent (2023) Report and Annex.

> SEE ALSO: Annual Progress Reports

Nuclear weapons

Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the NPT and an important element in the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The EU is firmly convinced of the enduring value of the Treaty. We are firmly committed to uphold and to strengthen the integrity of the Treaty, to promote its universalisation and to enhance its implementation. The Foreign Affairs Council adopted on 15 November 2021 Conclusions in view of the tenth NPT review conference. The EU has also supported financially a series of outreach events in the lead up to the Tenth NPT Review Conference to support the President designate and the Bureau in their task to identify future oriented actions to be agreed upon by NPT States parties.

Nuclear Security

The risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear or other radioactive material is a major threat to international peace and security.  The EU believes in the need to continue strengthening nuclear security worldwide in order to prevent nuclear terrorism and the misuse of nuclear and radioactive material. 

The European Union supports the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Besides political support, the EU offers financial support to the IAEA, and is among the most important donors of the Agency.

To strengthen the nuclear security architecture globally, the EU is also supporting the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). This Convention requires States Parties to adopt legislative and technical measures to protect nuclear material, installations and devices, and to prevent unauthorized access to them.  Building on our nuclear security engagement so far, the EU is financially supporting a project that promotes the universalisation and effective implementation of the ICSANT.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions are a serious threat to international peace and security.  The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is one of the most widely supported treaties.  Since its opening for signature in 1996, the CTBT has achieved near universal adherence.  It has helped to stop the practise of nuclear weapon tests, and also serves as a strong confidence- and security building measure.  

The Comprehensive Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) operates what has become the world’s largest and most sophisticated multilateral verification system.  It monitors signs of nuclear explosions around the globe and the clock.

Promoting the entry into force and universalisation of the CTBT remains a top priority for the EU, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said. All EU Member States have ratified the Treaty, and we remain strongly committed to pursuing the achievement of its objectives. 

The EU works closely with the CTBTO, supporting it also financially. Our funding helps to strengthen the CTBTO’s monitoring and verification capabilities, and to promote the universalization of the Treaty.

Chemical weapons

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is one of the most successful disarmament arrangements in the world, with 98% of the declared Chemical weapons stocks verifiably destroyed. The European Union is a strong supporter of the Convention and its implementing body, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), politically, diplomatically and financially with a view to enhancing the global chemical weapons non-use norm.

The OPCW Technical Secretariat has a unique expertise to inspect and detect chemical weapons, prohibited chemical substances and their precursors. Training activities play an important role in improving the capacities of national authorities, such as Customs and first responders, of the 193 States Parties to the Convention.

The EU is strongly committed to supporting the fight against impunity for the use of chemical weapons, including through the work of the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) in identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as through introducing restrictive measures under its chemical weapons sanctions regime.

The European Union, as well as its Member States in their national capacity, make substantial voluntary financial contributions in support of the OPCW.  They do this to ensure that the Organisation remains fit to face future challenges, for example through contributions to the establishment of the new OPCW laboratory, the “ChemTechCentre” as well as to improving OPCW business continuity. 

The European Union Member States’ combined yearly assessed contributions stand for ca. 25% of the OPCW’s regular annual budget.

Biological weapons

The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) is the cornerstone of international efforts to prevent disease from ever being used as a weapon. With its 183 States Parties, the Convention is nearly universal. Only 14 states have not yet joined the Convention. The European Union has an observer status in the Convention.

The EU is committed to strengthening the BTWC and its implementation and provides significant financial support to efforts aimed inter alia at universalisation of the Convention and improving the States Parties’ national preparedness as well as fostering biosecurity networks in the Global South.

The EU supports initiatives such as the establishment of a systematic and structured science and technology review process, a Code of Conduct for scientists and the establishment of a database on assistance offers and requests under Article VII of the Convention.

See Also: What are biological weapons?

Ballistic missiles

The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) is the result of efforts of the international community to regulate the area of ballistic missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. The Code is a politically binding document, encouraging States to undertake a number of measures to ensure a certain degree of transparency, and therefore confidence building with regard to their activities in the ballistic missiles area. 

The HCoC is the only multilateral transparency and confidence building instrument against the spread of ballistic missiles. HCoC members commit themselves politically to provide voluntarily pre-launch notifications on ballistic missile and space-launch vehicle launches and test flights. They also commit themselves to submitting an annual declaration of their country’s policies on ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles.

The European Union supports and promotes the objectives of the Code politically and financially, in support of outreach activities aimed at the universalization, the implementation and the enhancement of the HCoC. In 2022, the 20^th anniversary of HCoC provided an opportunity for increased outreach to states which have still not subscribed to the Code.

Small arms and light weapons (SALW)

The diversion of SALW and their ammunition continues to contribute to instability and violence worldwide. Illicit SALW fuel global terrorism and destabilise entire regions, states and their societies, thwarting sustainable development and crisis management efforts. Most armed conflicts, civil wars, organised crime and terrorist attacks are conducted with SALW as the major weapons.

The 2018 EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition "Securing arms, protecting citizens" presents a common way forward for the EU on how to address this threat. For that reason, the EU is undertaking actions to prevent the illicit trade in SALW and their ammunition, to curb their diversion to criminals, terrorists, and other unauthorised users, and to promote accountability and responsibility with regard to the legal SALW trade.  The EU is taking these actions together with the Member States and in cooperation with other states, regional and international organisations, civil society and other stakeholders.

Video from the field:

From 2019 to 2022, 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean strengthened their capacity to prevent illicit firearms trafficking and armed violence with the support of the European Union and the Organization of American States (OAS). With the contribution of the European Union of EUR 3 million the OAS has delivered comprehensive support to countries to improve their normative framework on firearms control, strengthen firearms and ammunition management, and increase community resilience to armed violence.

The video details all the results achieved and the impact of the European Union’s contribution to the communities of Latin America and the Caribbean. The continuous support of the European Union with the commitment of an additional EUR 4 million for the period of 2022-2025 will allow the continuity of this successful partnership and the sustainability of the progress achieved. Considering the Americas have the highest regional rate of homicides in the world, with almost 70% of them perpetrated with firearms, it is fundamental to continue supporting countries to reduce the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Anti-Personnel Mines

Mines continue to kill and maim people years and even decades after a conflict has ended.  Mines instil terror, stop refugees returning home and strip entire regions of a fair chance of economic development.

In 1997, a large group of countries gathered in Ottawa, and agreed that anti-personnel mines should have no place in the world.  They decided to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of landmines, addressing the problem at its root. All EU Member States are party to the Ottawa Convention.  The EU is united in promoting the Convention, in pursuit of a mine-free world by 2025.  It has a long history of assistance in mine clearance, risk education, victim assistance and stockpile destruction.  A number of EU funded projects also contribute to the socio-economic reintegration of victims.  The EU cooperates closely with the UN, civil society and mine action operators. 

Support to international mine action remains among the high priorities of EU foreign policy.  Through diplomatic and financial support initiatives, the EU will continue to be one of the leading actors in making the world free of mines.

Cluster Munitions

Cluster munition remnants have deadly impact on civilian populations and cause serious psychological trauma. These weapons also obstruct economic and social development, impede post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction, delay or prevent the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. They pose a threat to civilians, sometimes for decades after a conflict has ended.

The EU values the humanitarian aspects of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which addresses explosive remnants of war, including cluster munition remnants.

New Technology

The speedy development of new technologies also has impact on weapons. They get more precise, sometimes cheaper, can replace people and perform new tasks. The EU and its Member States are discussing how to control new weapons and ensure that humans remain in charge. These discussion take place for instance at the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). This is the most important international forum, uniting all UN Member States, NGOs, industry, military and researchers. They try to reach agreement on principles and rules for the use of new technologies in weapons. 

There are many questions. How autonomous can a weapon become before human control is lost?  How to continue to comply with international laws and human rights? For now, the GGE on LAWS has agreed on important guiding principles and is  working on making them more concrete. Perhaps the most important question is how to modernize existing arms control treaties so they capture the nature of new weapons.

SEE ALSO:  Council Conclusions on the 6th Review Conference of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW)

The EU supports a large number of projects against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, of conventional weapons and of small arms and light weapons.  The projects are worldwide, regional, or focused on concrete countries and are implemented by EU Member State Agencies, Treaty Bodies, UN Bodies or Regional Organisations. 

Since 2004, the EU has financed more than 130 projects, with more than €400 million. 

SEE ALSO: EU Projects in the Area of Non-Proliferation, Disarmament and Arms Export Control

The EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium’s e-learning course covers all aspects of the EU non-proliferation and disarmament agenda.  On their website, you will find information about the Consortium, its activities, papers, newsletter and more.