In a press release on 28 June from the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) spokesperson, the European Union approved the decision made at the fourth extraordinary Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention to enhance the powers of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The EEAS described this decision as, “a crucial step towards preserving and upholding the global norm against the use of chemical weapons”.
On 27 June, the Conference of State Parties improved the declaration on the threat of using chemical weapons, proposed by the United Kingdom and signed by 30 countries. This decision reasserts that “Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is unacceptable and contravenes international norms and standard”.
The declaration allocates strengthened powers to the Secretariat of the OPCW to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in the territory of a state, specifically those in Syria. According to the EEAS this decision on chemical weapons, “upholds the ability of the international community to combat their use, proliferation and impunity for their use”.
In its conclusions adopted during the night of 28-29 June, the European Council also offered its support for the decision made by the OPCW “Following the extraordinary Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the EU commits itself to supporting the implementation of its outcomes”. (Original version in French by Carmen García, trainee)