Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356Show full title

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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 26(2) 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 15 and 16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (‘the Strategy’), which sets the guidelines for Union action in the field of small arms and light weapons (‘SALW’). The Strategy identifies the Balkans and South-East Europe as regions particularly affected by the excessive accumulation and spread of SALW. It states that the Union will give priority attention to Central and Eastern Europe and underlines, with specific reference to the Balkans, that support for effective multilateralism as well as for relevant regional initiatives is an effective instrument for its implementation. It also specifically promotes the need to participate in the efforts to reduce surplus stocks of SALW left over in Eastern Europe from the Cold War.

(2) At the 2016 6th Preparatory Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects (‘the Programme of Action’), which was adopted on 20 July 2001, all UN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to prevent the illicit trafficking of SALW. States welcomed the progress made with regard to the strengthening of subregional and regional cooperation and committed to establish or strengthen, where appropriate, such cooperation, coordination and information-sharing mechanisms, including the sharing of best practices, in order to support the implementation of the Programme of Action.

(3) The South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), established in Belgrade in 2002 and functioning under the joint mandate of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Regional Cooperation Council (successor to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe), assists national and regional stakeholders in controlling and reducing the spread and misuse of SALW and ammunition, and thus contributes to enhanced stability, security and development in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe. SEESAC places particular emphasis on the development of regional projects to address the reality of cross-border flows of weapons.

(4) The Union previously supported SEESAC by means of Council Decision 2002/842/CFSP(1), extended and amended by Council Decisions 2003/807/CFSP(2) and 2004/791/CFSP(3) as well as Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP(4). The Union also supported SEESAC arms control activities by means of Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP(5).

(5) The Union wishes to finance a further SEESAC project on reducing the threat of the illicit spread and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in South-East Europe,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

Council Decision 2002/842/CFSP of 21 October 2002 concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 289, 26.10.2002, p. 1).

(2)

Council Decision 2003/807/CFSP of 17 November 2003 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 39).

(3)

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).

(4)

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).

(5)

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).