EU to Fund Biological Weapons Treaty Efforts
Global Security Newswire
European Union nations in February agreed to spend more than $1 million on two programs to increase membership in the Biological Weapons Convention and adherence to states' obligations under the treaty, Arms Control Today reported (see GSN, March 15).
The 18-month program approved Feb. 27 is a component of the "EU Strategy Against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction."
One project calls for five workshops focusing on regions in which a significant number of countries have yet to join the treaty, including Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Pacific Island states, Arms Control Today reported. The workshops would offer information to diplomats and bureaucrats on the treaty and EU nonproliferation efforts.
In the second project, European officials would offer legal and technical support to BWC member states that have yet to develop national legislation required by the treaty (see GSN, Feb. 17). Legislation must address issues such as criminalization of biological weapons development and securing biological agents and related materials and equipment (Michael Nguyen, Arms Control Today, April 2006).
European Union nations in February agreed to spend more than $1 million on two programs to increase membership in the Biological Weapons Convention and adherence to states' obligations under the treaty, Arms Control Today reported (see GSN, March 15).
The 18-month program approved Feb. 27 is a component of the "EU Strategy Against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction."
One project calls for five workshops focusing on regions in which a significant number of countries have yet to join the treaty, including Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Pacific Island states, Arms Control Today reported. The workshops would offer information to diplomats and bureaucrats on the treaty and EU nonproliferation efforts.
In the second project, European officials would offer legal and technical support to BWC member states that have yet to develop national legislation required by the treaty (see GSN, Feb. 17). Legislation must address issues such as criminalization of biological weapons development and securing biological agents and related materials and equipment (Michael Nguyen, Arms Control Today, April 2006).
