Small arms and light weapons: combating their accumulation

 

SUMMARY OF:

EU strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and ammunition

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE STRATEGY?

It provides an action plan to combat the threat associated with the illegal accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW)* and their ammunition, taking advantage of the wide range of mechanisms available to the EU.

KEY POINTS

• The SALW Strategy pulls together EU countries’ civilian and military capabilities, Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) instruments, and police, customs and judiciary action within the EU to advance its objectives.
• Effective multilateralism is needed in order to develop international, regional and national mechanisms.
• At the international level, priority is given to
  • implementing the United Nations’ programme of action on SALW;
  • tracing SALW through a global reporting mechanism (iTrace II); and
  • ratifying the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms.
• The EU will also seek to persuade non-EU countries that are SALW exporters to comply with the above.
• At the regional level, the EU provides financial support to concrete programmes aimed at tackling security threats related to illegal SALW in Libya, South Eastern Europe and the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe area.
• The strategy is also advanced by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, which helps prevent and respond to crises, and to create a safe and stable environment around the world.
• The Council of the EU continuously monitors the implementation of the EU SALW Strategy. Every 6 months, the European External Action Service presents a progress report to the Council for its endorsement.

BACKGROUND

The consequences of the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of SALW are central to 4 of the 5 challenges (terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, state failure and organised crime) identified in the European Security Strategy.

For more information, see:

• ‘The fight against excessive accumulation and illicit trafficking of SALW and their ammunition’ on the website of the European External Action Service.

* KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, Council of the European Union, Brussels, 13 January 2006

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, pp. 1-10)

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1908 of 22 October 2015 in support of a global reporting mechanism on illicit small arms and light weapons and other illicit conventional weapons and ammunition to reduce the risk of their illicit trade (‘iTrace II’) (OJ L 278, 23.10.2015, pp. 15-25)

last update 04.07.2016