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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 19 November 2018, the Council adopted the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition entitled ‘Securing Arms, Protecting Citizens’ (the ‘EU SALW Strategy’).
(2) The EU SALW Strategy recalls that while significant progress has been made in recent years, especially in South-East Europe, the scale of accumulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition, inadequate storage conditions, widespread illicit possession and gaps in implementation continue to limit the effectiveness of firearms and SALW control efforts in parts of the Western Balkans, impacting security in that region as well as in the EU.
(3) On 10 July 2018, the ‘Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024’ (the ‘Roadmap’) was adopted at the Western Balkans Summit in London.
(4) The EU SALW Strategy notes that the Union will continue its support to the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for SALW control activities and take into account regional initiatives, such as the Roadmap.
(5) The goals of the Roadmap agreed by the Western Balkans partners are consistent with the efforts within the Union and the United Nations (UN) to combat the trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. In his 2018 Agenda for Disarmament entitled ‘Securing our Common Future’, the UN Secretary‐General specifically called for the excessive accumulation and illicit trade in conventional arms to be addressed, and for support to country‐level approaches on small arms.
(6) The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the ‘2030 Agenda’) affirms that combating the illicit trade in SALW is necessary for the achievement of many sustainable development goals, including those relating to peace, justice and strong institutions, poverty reduction, economic growth, health, gender equality and safe cities. Therefore, in target 16.4 of Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda, all UN Member States have committed to significantly reducing illicit financial and arms flows.
(7) On 30 June 2018, the third United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects adopted an outcome document in which UN Member States renewed their commitment to preventing and combating the diversion of SALW. UN Member States reaffirmed their willingness to pursue international cooperation and to reinforce regional cooperation, through improved coordination, consultation, information exchange and operational cooperation, involving relevant regional and sub‐regional organisations, as well as law enforcement, border control and export and import licensing authorities.
(8) The project supported by this Decision aims to deepen and complement the assistance by the Union to SALW control. To date, that assistance has been provided by the Union through Council Decisions in support of SEESAC’s work in the Western Balkans region, namely Council Decisions 2004/791/CFSP(1), 2010/179/CFSP(2), 2013/730/CFSP(3) and (CFSP) 2016/2356(4) and contributes to the achievement of the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Roadmap goals supported by Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788(5),
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Council Decision 2004/791/CFSP of 22 November 2004 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union’s contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 348, 24.11.2004, p. 46).
Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP of 11 March 2010 in support of SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (OJ L 80, 26.3.2010, p. 48).
Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP of 9 December 2013 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to Combat the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition (OJ L 332, 11.12.2013, p. 19).
Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 of 19 December 2016 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (OJ L 348, 21.12.2016, p. 60).
Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 of 19 November 2018 in support of the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans (OJ L 293, 20.11.2018, p. 11).