20.8.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 2197 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION 2010/461/CFSP of 26 July 2010 on support for activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in order to strengthen its monitoring and verification capabilities and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, organisation, for the purpose of carrying out the effective implementation of the CTBT, pending the establishment of the CTBTO. Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in ticular Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof, particular Articles 26(2) an (1) thereo (5)  The early entry into force and universalisation of the CTBT and the strengthening of the monitoring and verifi- cation system of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO are important objectives of the Strategy. In this Whereas: connection, the nuclear tests carried out by the Demo- cratic People’s Republic of Korea in October 2006 and May 2009 further underlined the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT and the need for an accel- erated building-up and strengthening of the CTBT moni- (1)  On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted toring and verification system. the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (the Strategy), Chapter IIl of which contains a list of measures that need to be taken both within the European Union and in third countries to combat such (©) proliferation. The Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO is engaged in identifying how its verification system could best be strengthened, including through the development of noble gas monitoring capabilities and efforts aimed at fully involving States Signatories in the implementation (2)  The Union is actively implementing the Strategy and is of the verification regime. giving effect to the measures listed in Chapter III thereof, in particular through releasing financial resources to support specific projects conducted by multilateral insti- tutions, such as the Provisional Technical Secretariat of (7)  In the framework of the implementation of the Strategy, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation the Council adopted three Joint Actions on support for (CTBTO). activities of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO: Joint Action 2006/243/CFSP of 20 March 2006 (%) in the area of training and capacity building for verification and Joint Actions 2007/468/CFSP of 28 June 2007 (*) and 2008/588/CFSP of 15 July 2008 (%) in order to (3)  On 17 November 2003, the Council adopted Common strengthen the Preparatory Commission’s monitoring Position 2003/805/CESP on the universalisation and rein- and verification capabilities. forcement of multilateral agreements in the field of non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of delivery (!). That Common Position calls, inter alia, for the promotion of the signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). (8)  This support of the Union should be continued. (9)  The technical implementation of this Decision should be (4)  The States Signatories of the CTBT have decided to entrusted to the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, establish a Preparatory Commission, endowed with legal capacity, and which has standing as an international 88, 25.3.2006, p. 65. () OJL () O] L 176, 6.7.2007, p. 31. () OJL () OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 34. 189, 17.7.2008, p. 28.