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Spain contributes €510,000 to three OPCW Trust Funds

The contributions will be used to enhance capacity building activities and strengthen OPCW security infrastructures

28 February 2023
Spain contributes €510,000 to three OPCW Trust Funds

Ambassador Consuelo Femenía, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Spain to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—28 February 2023— The Government of the Kingdom of Spain has contributed €510,000 to three trust funds of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): the Trust Fund for the Centre for Chemistry and Technology, the Trust Fund for Security and Business Continuity, and the Trust Fund for Training.  

The voluntary contributions were formalised at a signing ceremony on 24 February 2023 held between the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Spain to the OPCW, Ambassador Consuelo Femenía, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the Organisation’s headquarters in The Hague. 

The contributions will be utilised as follows: 

  • €260,000 will be used to support general activities of the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre); 

  • €60,000 are allocated to strengthen OPCW’s physical and cyber security infrastructure; 

  • €40,000 will be utilised to increase analytical capabilities in several countries; 

  • €150,000 will be used towards building a network of Spanish-speaking laboratories in Latin America and the Caribbean for the analysis of chemicals subject to the Convention. 

“Spain is pleased to announce five further voluntary contributions to the OPCW, in support of the activities of the Technical Secretariat,” said Ambassador Consuelo Femenía. “Spain, one of the first signatories of the Convention, is a longstanding supporter of the OPCW and its fundamental work, and remains determined to continue increasing its support in the wide array of activities led by its Technical Secretariat, including the ChemTech Centre.”  

“I thank the Government of the Kingdom of Spain for its continuous support to the OPCW,” said the Director-General. “Spain’s valuable contributions to a broad range of activities will help enhance the capacity of both the OPCW Member States and the Technical Secretariat to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. The contribution to the ChemTech Centre in particular will boost the Organisation’s capabilities to help its Member States implement the Chemical Weapons Convention.”  

Background 

Spain has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. 

The ChemTech Centre is an important upgrade to the OPCW’s research, analytical and capacity building activities. It will serve as a knowledge repository to address chemical threats worldwide, and as a platform for the broader OPCW community to promote expert dialogue, exchange, and collaboration in advancing the peaceful uses of chemistry. The new facility will also help strengthen Member States’ capabilities related to verification tools, detection and response in the case of a chemical emergency. 

As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction. 

Over 99% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. 

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