Introduction

Since 2006, the European Union (EU) has supported the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) by means of two Joint Actions and six Council Decisions in the framework of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 

Over fourteen million Euros have been provided by the European Union, mostly to support capacity-building activities in developing countries. The EU Joint Actions and Council Decisions can be found here: 

• Council Joint Action 2006/184/CFSP (2006-2007) 

• Council Joint Action 2008/858/CFSP (2009-2011) 

• Council Decision 2012/421/CFSP (2012–2015) 

• Council Decision 2016/51/CFSP (2016-2019) 

• Council Decision 2019/97/CFSP (2019-2023) 

• Council Decision 2021/2072/CFSP (2021-23)   

• Council Decision 2024/349/CFSP (2024-26) 

• Council Decision 2025/494/CFSP (2025-28) 

Implementation

The Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is currently implementing two projects funded by the European Union.  

Council Decision 2024/349 aims to support implementation of the BWC on the international, regional and national levels through five projects:   

• Support for BWC universalization 

• Capacity Development in support of BTWC national implementation 

• Youth for Biosecurity Initiative 

• Support for the BTWC inter-sessional programme 

• Enabling tools for outreach, education and engagement 

Council Decision 2025/494 aims to support the BWC, its inter-sessional programme and the preparations for its Tenth Review Conference by means of three projects:  

• Support the BWC inter-sessional programme by facilitating consultations and integrating scientific perspectives on topics under discussion 

• Capacity building for BWC National Contact Points and supporting the inter-sessional discussions on national implementation and measures on confidence-building and transparency 

• Support the preparations for the Tenth Review Conference