L 43/14 Official Journal of the European Union 18.2.2015 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/259 of 17 February 2015 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28 thereof, Whereas: (I)  On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (hereinafter the ‘EU Strategy’), Chapter III of which contains a list of measures to combat such proliferation. (2)  The EU Strategy underlines the crucial role of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) and of the OPCW in creating a world free of chemical weapons. As part of the EU Strategy, the Union has committed itself to working towards universal adherence to key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, including the CWC. The objectives of the EU Strategy are complementary to the objectives pursued by the OPCW, in the context of the latter’s responsibility for the implementation of the CWC. (3)  On 22 November 2004, the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/797/CESP (') on support for OPCW activities, followed on its expiry by Joint Action 2005/913/CFSP (), which in turn was followed by Joint Action 2007/185/CFSP (). Joint Action 2007/185/CESP was followed by Decision 2009/569/CFSP () and Decision 2012/166/CFSP (°) which expires on 31 January 2015. (4)  The continuation of such intensive and targeted assistance from the Union to the OPCW is necessary in the context of the active implementation of Chapter IIl of the EU Strategy. There is a need for further activities promoting the full implementation of the CWC as well as activities enhancing the preparedness of State Parties to the CWC (‘State Parties’) to prevent and respond to attacks involving toxic chemicals, international cooperation in the field of chemical activities, and the ability of the OPCW to adapt to developments in the field of science and technology. Measures related to the universalisation of the CWC should continue and be adapted to and targeted at the declining number of States not Parties to the CWC. (50  From 8 to 19 April 2013, the Third Special Session of the Conference of the State Parties to Review the Operation of the CWC took place in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Union supported the final report of the Conference, which addressed all aspects of the CWC and made important recommendations on its implemen- tation. Those recommendations also include priority objectives for the Union referred to in Recital 4 and the EU Strategy. Support for the implementation of those recommendations is crucial to ensure continued relevance of the CWC and preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons. (") Council Joint Action 2004797 |CESP of 22 November 2004 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (O] L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 63). (*) Council Joint Action 2005/913/CESP of 12 December 2005 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (O L 331, 17.12.2005, p. 34). () Council Joint Action 2007/185/CESP of 19 March 2007 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 85, 27.3.2007, p. 10). (*) Council Decision 2009/569/CESP of 27 July 2009 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (O] L 197, 29.7.2009, p. 96). (®) Council Decision 2012/166/CFSP of 23 March 2012 in support of activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (OJ L 87, 24.3.2012, p. 49).