
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2020/564 of 23 April 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 on Union support for the activities of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in order to strengthen its monitoring and verification capabilities and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty of the European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:

(1) On 26 February 2018, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2018/298.

(2) The second paragraph of Article 5 of Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 provides for a 24-month implementation period from the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) of that Decision, for the activities referred to in Article 1 thereof.

(3) The financing agreement with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was signed on 28 April 2018 and is therefore due to expire on 27 April 2020.

(4) On 19 March 2020, Dr Lassina ZERBO, the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO requested an extension, until 30 November 2020, of the implementation period provided for in Decision (CFSP) 2018/298, due to the emerging worldwide COVID-19 crisis and the related temporary suspension of non-critical CTBTO activities.

(5) Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 should therefore be amended.

(6) The extension of the activities referred to in Article 1 of Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 until 30 November 2020 does not affect resources,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 
The second paragraph of Article 5 of Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 is replaced by the following:
‘This Decision shall expire on 30 November 2020.’.
Article 2 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 23 April 2020.
For the Council
The President
G. GRLIĆ RADMAN