Special Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation 21 March 2007
The EU welcomes the initiative of France and Belgium to discuss the fight against the illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) by air transport at the Special Meeting of the Forum for Security Cooperation.
SALW are a major factor in the triggering and spreading of conflicts and can contribute to the collapse of state structures. The illicit trafficking of SALW constitutes a threat to international peace and security, through uncontrolled spreading of illicit weapons in particular in conflict areas. It contributes to terrorism, regional conflicts, state failure and organized crime.
The EU and its Member States play a significant role in implementing projects worldwide, targeting different aspects of political, legislative, as well as humanitarian and developmental consequences of the illicit spread and misuse of conventional weapons.
In 1998 the EU adopted a “Code of Conduct on Arms Exports”. This politically binding instrument contributes to the harmonization of Member States’ policies on arms exports. The Code lays down eight criteria for the export of conventional weapons and a procedure for denials. These criteria have to be considered in every single case of arms export.
Internationally, the EU has been actively promoting the implementation of the 2001 “UN Program of Action to combat the illicit trade in SALW” (UNPoA). In the run-up of the 2006 First Review Conference, the EU developed and is implementing an Action Plan in favour of the national implementation of the UNPoA, the strengthening of this multilateral approach to conventional disarmament and the adoption of a follow-up process.
The “EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition” aims at developing an integrated approach and a comprehensive Plan of Action to combat the illicit trade in SALW and their ammunition. This Plan of Action provides for a strengthening of the control policies and activities with its partners, supporting the reduction of stockpiles on SALW, address the underlying factors favouring the illegal demand and strengthening the effective rule of law in countries which remain unstable. Based on these provisions the EU supports different projects and activities to collect and destroy surplus SALW and to improve the security of storage facilities all over the world.
The EU is considering implications of measures to fight the possible illicit use of EU air space for SALW trafficking and looks for clarifications on the practical modalities of this initiative. A closer cooperation between national services in charge of transport, customs and export control, as well as law enforcement agencies is already being promoted among EU partners. The exchange of information on airfreight companies possibly involved in activities in contravention to UN and EU arms embargoes is envisaged as a further possible measure.
The EU fully supports the timely initiative of the delegations of France and Belgium to discuss the illicit trafficking of SALW by air transport among participating States. The EU hopes that our discussions might support the enhanced implementation by participating States of the relevant international regulations and commitments concerning the control of transfers of SALW and therefore help to restrict the illicit trafficking of SALW by air within the OSCE and between the OSCE area and destinations outside.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
