L 33/38 Official Journal of the European Union 10.2.2015 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/203 of 9 February 2015 in support of the Union proposal for an international Code of Conduct for outer-space activities as a contribution to transparency and confidence-building measures in outer-space activities THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1)  Space activities are expanding and their importance is crucial. Space is a resource for all states in the world. Those which do not yet have space activities could have them in the future. Therefore, the Union considers that strengthening the security of outer-space activities is an important goal that will contribute to the development and security of states. This objective is part of the Union’s space policy. (2)  On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted a European Security Strategy identifying global challenges and threats, and calling for a rule-based international order based on effective multilateralism and well- functioning international institutions. (3)  The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations Charter as the fundamental framework for international relations and advocates strengthening the United Nations (UN) and equipping it to fulfil its responsi- bilities and to act effectively. The Union works towards a high degree of cooperation in all fields of international relations, in order, inter alia, to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. (4)  The Union is committed to the development and implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures, as a means to achieve enhanced space security. The Union is also particularly sensitive to the issue of the risks posed by space debris, irrespective of its origins, which is detrimental to present and future activities. (50 On 18 September 2007, in its reply to UN General Assembly resolution 61/75 of 6 December 2006, the Union introduced its proposal for an international Code of Conduct for outer-space activities (the Code of Conduct’) and launched consultations to promote the development of a preliminary draft. (6)  In its Conclusions of 8-9 December 2008, the Council of the European Union supported the first draft for an international Code of Conduct, in which states would participate on a voluntary basis, and which included transparency and confidence-building measures, as a basis for consultations with key third states that have activities in outer space or have interests in outer-space activities, with the aim of securing a text that is acceptable to the greatest number of states. (7)  On 27 September 2010, the Council of the European Union gave a mandate to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) to carry out further and wider consultations on the basis of a revised version of the draft Code of Conduct produced by the Union in the light of consultations with interested states. (8)  The Union proposal for a draft Code of Conduct was formally presented to the international community in Vienna on 5 June 2012. Subsequently a process of open-ended consultations (OEC) on the draft text was initiated, with the aim of increasing the transparency and inclusivity of the process. Three rounds of consultations were held, the latter two on revised versions of the Code of Conduct: on 16-17 May 2013 in Kyiv, on 20-22 November 2013 in Bangkok and, finally, on 27-28 May 2014 in Luxembourg. Each of those meetings was attended by participants from more than 60 states, and altogether included participants from more than 80 states. (9) At the end of the OEC held in Luxembourg on 27-28 May 2014, the Chair concluded that the process of three rounds of OEC held by the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the involvement of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in 2013-2014 had played a valuable role in developing a better mutual understanding of positions and concerns among the participating states. A strong desire had been expressed by many participants in Luxembourg to move the process from a consultative to a negotiating phase,