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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 05/04
The European Union: Tackline the threat from Weapons of Mass Destruction
Dr. Stephen Pullinger and Dr. Gerrard Quille
November 2003
Abstract
This is the first in a series of Discussion and Policy Papers - published by ISIS Europe and Saferworld - that will trace, analyse and contribute towards developments in the European Union's emerging strategy against the proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction (WMD). This first paper has been written for circulation at the EU's Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the 'Non-proliferation and Disarmament Co-operation Initiative' within the framework of the G8 'Global Partnership against Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction', launched in Kananaskis, Canada in July 2002. The authors welcome the initiative by the European Commission to promote Parliamentary interest in this important area of nonproliferation. The key challenge facing the EU is to demonstrate that 'effective multilateralism' is sufficiently strong to be able to deal with states of concern. This is a response to the new US preparedness to bypass the regime because of its frustration at the regime's failure to deal with 'rogue' states. Consequently, if the regime is to survive as an effective instrument of proliferation prevention it needs to show that it has teeth and is prepared to use them.
The EU has now adopted two documents entitled: 'Basic Principles for an EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction' and an 'Action Plan for the implementation of the Basic Principles for an EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction'.
These give teeth to the emerging Security Strategy identification of WMD (and terrorism) as EU priorities. They reaffirm the importance of international nonproliferation norms through international law and multilateral organisations such as the UN. The bulk of the Action Plan's concrete programme of activities falls within the priorities of the Member States.
An acknowledgement that there may be circumstances in which 'pre-emptive engagement' might be necessary is, nevertheless, placed firmly in the context of respecting international law and supporting the UN system. This is critical as it delineates between the US unilateralists and the European multilateralists. Making multilateralism work effective really boils down to 'political will'. The Security Strategy highlights the areas where Member States feel they can commit political capital to move the non-proliferation agenda forward in a co-ordinated manner.
In Strasbourg we expect the G8 gathering to confirm their commitment to the pressing and important area of practical non-proliferation known as 'co-operative threat reduction', as well as begin to build a strategic partnership beyond Russia to tackle pressing non-proliferation concerns through a multi-layered strategy that includes a commitment to make non-proliferation regimes work.
