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Position of the European Union - Organizational, institutional and financial arrangements within the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

08.12.2023
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

POSITION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON ORGANIZATIONAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN THE BIOLOGICAL AND TOXIN WEAPONS CONVENTION

  1. The EU is firmly committed to a multilateral and treaty-based approach that maintains and reinforces international peace and security. The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) is one of the major pillars of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture.

Implementation Support Unit

  1. The EU recognizes the indispensable contribution of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) to the effective implementation of the BTWC and in facilitating States Parties’ compliance with their obligations. The ISU’s role is fundamental in enhancing the Convention’s operational capacity. The EU encourages further enhancement of the ISU’s role – such as an upgrade to a Secretariat – to ensure proper coordination and support for the decisions taken at the Review Conferences.
  2. Our commitment to the BTWC’s success aligns with the decisions of the Ninth Review Conference, particularly those related to Science and Technology, Verification and Compliance, and International Cooperation and Assistance. Any future institutional arrangement of the BTWC should integrate seamlessly with mechanisms to be established and their mandates, each contributing to a comprehensive framework that fosters the Convention’s effectiveness.
  3. The EU is convinced that in working towards the effective institutionalization of the BTWC, it is imperative to uphold the principles of independence, complementarity, and financial stability.

Finances

  1. Timely and full contributions to the BTWC budget are essential for the functioning and strengthening of the Convention, including for convening regular meetings and sustaining the ISU. Once again, the EU calls upon all States Parties to fulfil their financial obligations under the Convention and to pay their assessed contributions on time and in full. The EU urges States Parties in arrears to pay their dues without further delay.

Regional Group structure

  1. The EU noted the decision of Russia to withdraw from the Eastern European Group and to establish a new regional group under the Convention, consisting of Russia only. The EU does not recognize a Group of One by Russia at the BTWC owing to the implications of any new group for geographical rotation of office holders and allocation of the various positions at the BTWC meetings. The EU reiterates its position that any departure from current arrangements based on the existing three-group system at the BTWC requires a consensus decision by all States Parties, which does not exist at the moment.