Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-10-Speech-2-194"
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"en.20050510.23.2-194"2
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".
Mr President, when it comes to small arms and light weapons (SALW), we all know that the world is faced with many regional conflicts where weapons of this kind, sometimes even used by children, are creating extremely dangerous and destructive situations. That is why the European Union is backing the Secretary-General’s call for the development of long-term strategies to end the scourge of the illicit proliferation of small arms.
The United Nations programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects is one such strategy. It was adopted on 20 July 2001 and the European Union is actively seeking to apply the recommendations it contains at national, regional and world levels.
The consequences of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation and of the excessive build-up and uncontrolled spread of small arms lie at the heart of four of the five major challenges identified by the security strategy adopted by the European Council in 2003. Small arms and light weapons in fact help to exacerbate terrorism and organised crime and are a major factor in the unleashing and spread of conflict and the collapse of state structures.
As the European strategy underlines, conflicts in which weapons of this kind are by far the principal instrument have cost the lives of nearly 4 million people since 1990 and have forced more than 18 million others to leave their homes or their countries. The increased access by non-state players to these stocks of arms has changed the nature and duration of conflicts. It is a situation that risks compromising our own security and the European Union needs to cooperate closely with its international partners in responding to it.
We are therefore very actively preparing for the second biennial meeting of states to consider the implementation of the United Nations programme of action on small arms and light weapons, to be held in New York in mid-July. In connection with preparations for this important event, the Presidency has compiled a list of subjects that should be given priority in the competent international fora. This list, which is awaiting approval, includes in particular the illicit brokering of small arms, control of transfers, verification of end use, the link between security and development, the management of weapons held by the military and security forces, the creation of machinery for implementing the UN action plan, the possession of small arms by civilians, transfer to non-state players and technical assistance for the submission and presentation of reports.
More particularly, the European Union stresses the importance of creating a group of government experts immediately following the 2006 conference that will examine the programme of action; the group will consider further measures to strengthen international cooperation to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons.
Another of our key priorities is to negotiate an international instrument for the identification and tracing of such weapons. The open-ended working group responsible for negotiating this instrument has the European Union’s full support. At the two meetings held by the working group of diplomats and experts up until now, the European Union and the other parties have explained and confirmed their priorities on the different aspects, in particular the type of instrument, its scope and definitions, the marking and tracing of small arms and ammunition, registration and international cooperation. The European Union notes the progress made at these talks, while regretting that the participating states remain divided on the two big issues of the type of instrument and the inclusion of ammunition.
The European Union itself is working to see the adoption of a legally binding instrument to complement the United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms. It is also insisting that this instrument should include suitable provisions on ammunition. After all, only a steady supply of ammunition enables illicit small arms and light weapons to continue to wreak havoc. If we can prevent trafficking in ammunition, however, we will be able to silence the weapons themselves. If the working group reaches a positive outcome at its final session in June 2005, the EU will do all it can to see that the instrument comes into force quickly.
As you know, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union is also very active in this field, both internally and through its bilateral aid to third countries. In the EU itself, the Council adopted the Code of Conduct on Conventional Arms Exports in 1998. This makes for improved exchanges of information between Member States and strengthens mutual understanding of their export control policies, including requirements for an end-user certificate or appropriate documents or a form of official authorisation issued by the country of final destination, which must be meticulously checked. As you know, the code of conduct is currently being revised; it will cover virtually all activities closely or remotely connected with arms transfers. So far as assistance to third countries is concerned, following a few limited common actions, in 2002 the European Union adopted a common action and on that basis launched specific actions involving projects for the collection and destruction of weapons in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Balkans. In the matter of those weapons, the Council is willing to report to this House periodically and to work closely with you."@en1
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