Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Budget and U.S. Contributions
August 25, 2021
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW): Budget and U.S. Contributions
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
inspections at facilities suspected to be in violation of the
(OPCW), located in The Hague, Netherlands, is the
convention. The CWC states parties reimburse the OPCW
international organization responsible for overseeing
for the cost of inspections.
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC, or Convention). The parties to the CWC have
Governing Structure and Budget Process
agreed to destroy and prevent the development and use of
CWC states parties review implementation of the
chemical weapons, as well as to restrict the use of dual-use
Convention and oversee the work of the OPCW through
chemicals while promoting technical cooperation. Assessed
two governing bodies: the Conference of States Parties
use of chemical weapons by Syria, North Korea, and Russia
(CSP, or Conference) and the Executive Council (EC, or
since 2013 has drawn renewed U.S. and international
Council). The CSP consists of representatives of all states
attention to chemical weapons issues and placed additional
parties to the CWC. The EC is made up of 41 member
demands on the OPCW.
states elected on a rotating basis for a two-year term by the
CSP; the CWC requires the Council membership to reflect
Background and Context
“equitable geographical distribution.”
The CWC opened for signature in January 1993 and entered
into force on April 29, 1997. Currently 193 states are party
The OPCW Director General (DG) prepares the budget
to the treaty. Israel has signed but not ratified the
estimate and sends it to the EC. After reviewing the budget,
Convention. Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have not
the EC sends it to the CSP for approval. The Conference
signed the CWC. The United States signed the CWC in
meets annually to approve the OPCW’s program and
1993; the U.S. Senate subsequently held hearings and
budget and to decide on other matters brought before it by
debated the treaty before granting its advice and consent to
the EC, the DG, and member states. The CSP approves the
ratification on April 24, 1997 (S.Res. 75, 105th Congress).
budget as recommended by the EC, or returns the budget
Congress passed the CWC implementing legislation as a
draft with recommendations to the EC for resubmission.
part of the FY1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-
277) in October 1998. This legislation provides the
The CWC requires the CSP to appoint the OPCW DG, who
statutory authority for domestic compliance with the
serves for a four-year term. The current DG, Fernando
Convention’s provisions. The United States is scheduled to
Arias, a Spanish diplomat, was appointed in December
complete destruction of its chemical weapons stockpiles by
2017. In addition to preparing the budget, the DG reviews
2023.
inspection reports, oversees the Technical Secretariat, and
works to promote universal membership in the CWC.
CWC Provisions and OPCW Role
The CWC bans the development, production, transfer,
The OPCW is a “related organization” of the United
stockpiling, and use of chemical and toxin weapons, and
Nations (U.N.) system. The two organizations signed a
mandates the destruction of all chemical weapons and their
Relationship Agreement in 2001 in which they agreed to
production facilities. The CWC requires states parties to
cooperate closely, especially in cases “of particular gravity
provide declarations, which detail chemical weapons-
and urgency.”
related activities or materials and relevant industrial
activities. The OPCW Technical Secretariat, which employs
OPCW Budget Structure and
about 500 staff, verifies the accuracy of these declarations,
2021 Funding
inspecting and monitoring states’ facilities and activities,
The OPCW budget consists of the Regular Budget Fund,
including chemical weapons destruction efforts.
the Working Capital Fund, and the Voluntary Fund for
Assistance. The OPCW budget is determined on an annual
The CWC created a complex verification regime, with
calendar year basis. The organization follows the principle
different obligations applying to different types of chemical
of “zero-based budgeting” characterized by zero nominal
facilities. The convention establishes three schedules of
growth in member states’ assessed contributions.
chemicals, grouped by relevance to chemical weapons
production and the extent of their legitimate uses. Some
Both CSP and EC decisions regarding the OPCW budget
chemical facilities are subject to systematic onsite
(described above) require a two-thirds majority of those
verification; others are subject to periodic verification
present and voting. Typically, the Conference approves the
inspections. CWC states parties may also request challenge
following year’s budget each September; the Conference
approved the 2021 budget in December 2020. For 2021, the
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link to page 2 Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Budget and U.S. Contributions
OPCW’s regular assessed budget is $86.8 million (EUR
U.S. assessed contributions to the OPCW may fluctuate by
71.7 million), financed primarily from member states’
year for a number of reasons, including the euro-U.S. dollar
assessed annual contributions (CWC Article VIII), member
exchange rate, variations in Articles IV and V inspection
states’ reimbursements of the costs of verification activities
activity costs, OPCW budget modifications, and changes to
(described below) on their territory (CWC Articles IV and
the U.S. assessment rates. At times, the United States has
V) and cash surplus from previous years.
been behind in its assessed payments due to the differences
between the OPCW fiscal year (January 1-December 31)
Verification Costs
and the U.S. fiscal year (October 1-September 30).
In addition to assessed annual contributions, states parties
must reimburse the organization for the full costs of Article
Table 1. U.S. Assessed Funding to OPCW, CIO
IV and V verification activities on their territory. Article IV
Account: FY2018-FY2022
of the CWC requires states to destroy their chemical
in current euros (€) and U.S. dollars ($)
weapons and specifies that “all locations at which chemical
FY18
FY19
FY20
FY21
FY22
weapons ... are stored or destroyed shall be subject to
actual actual actual
est.
req.
systematic [OPCW] verification through on-site inspection
U.S. assessment
14,417 14,766 14,766 14,766 14,766
and monitoring with on-site instruments.” This article also
(22%) (€)
requires states to
Article IV and V
3,500
352
972
2,000
2,000
costs (€)
provide access to any chemical weapons destruction
facilities and their storage areas... for the purpose of
Total
17,917 15,118 15,738 16,766 16,766
Requirements (€)
systematic verification through on-site inspection
and monitoring with on-site instruments.
Total
20,912 16,923 17,443 19,762 19,725
Requirements
CWC Article V contains similar provisions for chemical
(U.S. $)
weapons production facilities.
Source: Department of State Congressional Budget Justifications,
Appendix 1, various years.
Voluntary Contributions
Notes: OPCW assessments levels and Article IV and V costs are
Member states may also make extra-budgetary voluntary
calculated based on euros. Exchange rates are based on State
contributions to the OPCW that are meant to supplement its
Department estimates. For FY2021 and FY2022, “est.” and “req.”
mean estimated and requested, respectively.
regular work. Member states may also provide in-kind
contributions, such as the donation of equipment or
The United States provides voluntary funding to OPCW
personnel. OPCW member states established a fund, which
primarily through the Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism,
the organization has since renewed annually, in December
Demining, and Related Programs (NADR) account in
2015 for OPCW special missions. This fund is intended to
cover certain unforeseen activities, such as fact-finding
annual SFOPS Appropriations Acts. These contributions
generally fund the Trust Fund for Syria Missions, which
missions to determine whether a chemical weapon was
supports the work of the related Declaration Assessment
used. The OPCW created a separate extra-budgetary fund
for work in Syria, the Trust Fund for Syria Missions.
Team (DAT) and the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). In
FY2019, OPCW received $10.347 million through the
NADR account, according to the latest available State
In addition, a new ChemTech Centre, funded through
voluntary contributions, is scheduled to be completed by
Department data. Congress does not specifically
the end of 2022. The OPCW says the new research facility
appropriate this funding; instead, it appropriates a lump
will provide “new and improved verification tools and
sum to NADR account and the State Department allocates
expanded capabilities to conduct non-routine missions, and
funding based on U.S. policy priorities.
providing greater support for international cooperation and
assistance activities.”
Additional Resources
CRS In Focus IF10354, United Nations Issues: U.S.
U.S. Contributions
Funding to the U.N. System, by Luisa Blanchfield
The United States is the largest financial contributor to the
CRS Insight IN10936, Resurgence of Chemical Weapons
OPCW, providing both assessed and voluntary funding.
The share of U.S. assessed contributions is 22% of the
Use: Issues for Congress, by Mary Beth D. Nikitin
regular OPCW budget. Congress appropriates this funding
CRS Report RL33865, Arms Control and Nonproliferation:
through the Contributions to International Organizations
A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements, by Amy F. Woolf,
(CIO) account in annual Department of State, Foreign
Paul K. Kerr, and Mary Beth D. Nikitin
Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriations
Acts. These contributions also include U.S. reimbursements
for inspection and verification expenses related to the
Paul K. Kerr, Specialist in Nonproliferation
organization’s activities within the United States, as
Mary Beth D. Nikitin, Specialist in Nonproliferation
required under CWC Articles IV and V. Table 1 highlights
Luisa Blanchfield, Specialist in International Relations
U.S assessed contributions to OPCW from FY2018 to
IF11913
FY2022, which have ranged between $17 million and $21
million, and include Articles IV and V costs.
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Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Budget and U.S. Contributions
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