20th Anniversary of the HCoC

25 November 2022

On 25 November 2022, the HCoC marked its 20th anniversary. It was indeed adopted in the Hague by 93 states on the same date in 2002. After two decades of existence, the Code is all the more important to international security.

The European External Action Service published the following communique.

 

 

Following the international conference for the International Code of Conduct against the Proliferation of Ballistic Missile, held at the Ridderzaal, in the Hague, 93 states subscribed to the new Code. 25-26 November 2002. Credits: Dirk Hol, ANP via AFP.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Code, the French and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also published a joint statement that can be read here.

“The two decades of the Code’s existence have been lost in light of their importance within the multilateral architecture of non-proliferation. The HCoC is the only instrument vis-à-vis the universe introducing measures of confidence and transparency in the domains of ballistic missiles and space launches, all in an appeal to show restraint and vigilance in the development and use of their technologies.”