Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1222 of 4 June 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1222 5.6.2026 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/1222 of 4 June 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on 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 June 2023 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344(1), which concerns Union support in enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

(2) On 13 March 2026, the OPCW requested a no-cost extension of the application of Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 until 25 November 2026 in order to ensure the continuity of Union support, programming and funding and to avoid gaps between Union Actions covering institutional support to the OPCW in situations where the OPCW has had to prioritise emergencies arising from an evolving environment and complex security concerns. Those emergencies include the exceptional and unanticipated political and operational change in the Syrian Arab Republic in 2024, Ukraine’s identification and documentation of 11 000 uses of toxic chemicals since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 and allegations of the use of chemical weapons in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in the ongoing Sudanese Civil War.

(3) The extension would allow the OPCW to finalise the objectives and activities set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344.

(4) Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 In Article 5(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344, the term ‘36 months’ is replaced by the term ‘41 months’.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 4 June 2026.

For the Council The President C. FITIRIS

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 of 26 June 2023 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (OJ L 168, 3.7.2023, p. 27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1344/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1222/oj 1/1