Welcome
Germany at the 30th Conference of States Parties to the OPCW
Ambassador Thomas Schieb during CSP-30 © OPCW
The 30th Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention took place in The Hague from 24 to 28 November 2025. Representatives from over 150 States Parties came together to discuss the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and determine the organisation's future direction. During the opening session, Katharina Ahrens, the Federal Government's disarmament representative, spoke on behalf of Germany. Many States Parties expressed grave concern about Russia's continued use of riot control agents and other toxic chemicals in its war against Ukraine, as well as its clear violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Since the Eastern European Regional Group was not able to agree on a clean slate regarding Executive Council membership (May 2026 – May 2028), an election took place in which Slovenia, Slovakia and Ukraine prevailed against Armenia and Russia.
The Conference appointed Sabrina Dallafior Matter of Switzerland as the new Director-General of the OPCW by consensus, on recommendation previously agreed upon by the Executive Council under German chairmanship. Ambassador Dallafior Matter will be the first woman to head the OPCW when her term of office begins on 25 July 2026.