The United States and European Union signed a joint declaration today in New York reiterating our shared commitment to full and comprehensive implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1540 and 1977. UNSCR 1540, adopted in 2004, requires all UN member states to take measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the means to produce them. It also established a Security Council Committee to oversee the Resolution’s implementation. Resolution 1977 extended the mandate of this Committee for ten years, until April 2021.
The declaration notes joint support for the efforts of the 1540 Committee and its group of experts. In particular, the declaration states that the EU and the United States will support strengthening the 1540 Committee in its role as a clearing-house for those countries seeking international assistance to bolster their nonproliferation capabilities. It also states that the EU and the United States will support other UN activities to help countries build capacity to prevent proliferation, such as developing legislation needed to control WMD-related materials, and developing training programs directly relevant to implementing UNSCR 1540.
The Declaration also notes other European and U.S. efforts to support implementation of UNSCR 1540. These efforts include the EU’s establishment of regional Centers of Excellence to address the threat posed by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, and the recent U.S. donation to the UN’s Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities to support UNSCR 1540 related activities.
The joint declaration was introduced by the European Union, to develop a joint action plan for encouraging full implementation of UNSCR 1540. The Joint Declaration was signed in conjunction with an event hosted by Poland, which currently holds the EU presidency. Full text of the declaration is available at www.un.org/sc/1540.