On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (‘the Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures that need to be taken both within the Union and in third countries to combat such proliferation.

The EU is actively implementing the Strategy and giving effect to the measures listed in Chapters II and III thereof, for example by releasing financial resources to support specific projects leading to the enhancement of a multilateral non-proliferation system and multilateral confidence building measures. The Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (‘the Code’ or ‘HCoC’) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (‘MTCR’) are integral parts of that multilateral non-proliferation system. The Code and the MTCR aim to prevent and curb the proliferation of ballistic missile systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (‘WMD’) and related technologies.

On 17 November 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/805/CFSP1. That Common Position calls, inter alia, for the promotion of the subscription of as many countries as possible to the Code, especially those with ballistic missile capabilities, as well as for the further development and implementation of the Code, especially its confidence-building measures, and for the promotion of a closer relationship between the Code and the UN multilateral non-proliferation system.

On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted its conclusions and a document entitled ‘New lines for action by the European Union in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems’. The document states, inter alia, that proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems continue to constitute one of the greatest security challenges and that non-proliferation policy constitute an essential part of Common Foreign and Security Policy. In the light of progress made and of ongoing efforts in the implementation of the ‘new lines for action’, the Council agreed in December 2010 to prolong their implementation period until the end of 2012.

On 18 December 2008, the Council adopted Decision 2008/974/CFSP2 in support of the Code in the framework of the implementation of the Strategy.

On 23 July 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/423/CFSP3. That Decision has allowed the successful promotion of the universality of the Code and compliance with its principles. It is a priority of the Union to continue dialogue among subscribing and non-subscribing States with the aim of further promoting the universality of the Code as well as its better implementation and enhancement. This Decision should contribute to this process.

More generally, the continued proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering WMD constitutes a cause of growing concern for the international community, in particular ongoing missiles programmes in the Middle-East, North-East Asia and South-East Asia, including Iran, Syria and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (‘DPRK’).

The UN Security Council emphasised in UNSCR 1540 (2004) and recalled in UNSCR 1977 (2011) that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constituted a threat to international peace and security and obliged States, inter alia, to refrain from supporting by any means non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems. The threat caused by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery to international peace and security was reaffirmed in UNSCR 1887 (2009) on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Furthermore, the UN Security Council decided in UNSCRs 1929 (2010) and 1718 (2006), based inter alia on UNSC resolutions 1540 (2004), 1977 (2011) and 1887 (2009), that Iran and the DPRK should not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology, and that States should take all necessary measures to prevent the transfer of technology or technical assistance to Iran and DPRK related to such activities.

This Decision should serve, more generally, to support a range of activities aimed to fight against the proliferation of ballistic missiles,