COUNCIL DECISION 2012/700/CFSP
of 13 November 2012
in the framework of the European Security Strategy in support of the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014, adopted by the States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
The Union should aim for a high degree of cooperation in all fields of international relations, in order, inter alia, to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
(2)
On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted the European Security Strategy identifying global challenges and threats, and calling for a rule-based international order based on effective multilateralism and well-functioning international institutions.
(3)
The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations Charter as the fundamental framework for international relations and advocates strengthening the United Nations (‘the UN’) and equipping it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act effectively.
(4)
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51/45 of 10 December 1996 urged all States to pursue vigorously an effective, legally-binding international agreement to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
(5)
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (‘the Convention’) was opened for signature on 3 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 March 1999. It constitutes the only comprehensive international instrument dealing with all aspects of anti-personnel mines, including their use, stockpiling, production, trade, clearance and victim assistance.
(6)
On 23 June 2008 the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/487/CFSP (1) in support of the universalisation and implementation of the Convention. As of 1 October 2012, 160 States have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention.
(7)
On 3 December 2009, the States Parties to the Convention adopted the Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014 (‘the Cartagena Action Plan’) on the universalisation and implementation of all aspects of the Convention. They thereby recognised and further encouraged the full participation in and contribution to the implementation of the Convention by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (‘the ICBL’), the International Committee of the Red Cross (‘the ICRC’), national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (‘the IFRC’), the UN, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (‘the GICHD’), international and regional organisations, mine survivors and their organisations, and other civil society organisations, as provided for in action No 62 of the Cartagena Action Plan.
(8)
On 3 December 2010, the States Parties to the Convention adopted the ‘Directive of the States Parties to the Implementation Support Unit’ (‘the ISU’) in which the States Parties agreed that the ISU should provide advice and technical support to States Parties on the implementation and universalisation of the Convention, facilitate communication among the States Parties, and promote communication and information regarding the Convention both towards States not parties to the Convention and to the public. The ISU was mandated to liaise and coordinate as appropriate with relevant international organisations participating in the work of the Convention, including the ICBL, the ICRC, the IFRC, the UN and the GICHD.
(9)
On 2 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/29 on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The General Assembly recalled that at the Second Review Conference of the Convention the international community had reviewed the implementation of the Convention, and that the States Parties to the Convention had adopted the Cartagena Action Plan, stressing the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention, including through the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan. The States Parties to the Convention invited all States that had not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention, and urged all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, sub-regional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means.
(10)
In 2012 and 2013, Meetings of the States Parties to the Convention will take place. The international community will then gather in 2014 for the Convention’s Third Review Conference to assess progress in the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan. By that time it will be expected that the implementation of the Action Plan will have brought about a substantial contribution to progress towards ending the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. With a view to supporting the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014 (‘the Cartagena Action Plan’) adopted by the States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (‘the Convention’), in the framework of the European Security Strategy and in line with relevant decisions of the international community, the Union shall pursue the following objectives:
(a)
supporting the efforts of States Parties to the Convention to implement the victim assistance aspects of the Cartagena Action Plan;
(b)
supporting the efforts of States Parties to the Convention to implement the mine clearance aspects of the Cartagena Action Plan;
(c)
promotion of the universalisation of the Convention;
(d)
demonstrating the ongoing commitment of the Union and its Member States to the Convention and their resolve to cooperate with, and extend assistance to, those States that need support in meeting their commitments under the Convention, and enhancing the leading role of the Union in pursuing the Convention’s vision of a conclusive end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.
2. All the objectives referred to in paragraph 1 shall be pursued in such a way that they reinforce the Convention’s historic culture of partnership and collaboration between States, non-governmental and other organisations and local partners, particularly by working closely with relevant actors to enhance specific manifestations of such a collaboration.
3. In order to achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph 1, the Union shall undertake the following projects:
(a)
Victim assistance: providing technical support in up to eight instances, carrying out up to five mid-term appraisals and executing up to five follow-up actions;
(b)
Mine clearance: carrying out up to five mid-term appraisals and executing up to five follow-up actions;
(c)
Universalisation of the Convention: supporting a high level task force, producing a study on border security without anti-personnel mines, and organising up to three universalisation workshops;
(d)
Demonstrating the commitment of the Union: staging launch and wrap-up events, ensuring the accessibility of the Convention’s website, making the victim assistance commitments of the States Parties to the Convention widely available, organising a press visit, and producing communications materials and publications.
A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘the High Representative’) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.
2. The technical implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(3) shall be carried out by the Implementation Support Unit (‘the ISU’), represented by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (‘the GICHD’). The ISU shall perform these tasks under the control of the High Representative. For this purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the GICHD.
Article 3
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(3) shall be EUR 1 030 000.
2. The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
3. The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the GICHD, stipulating that the ISU is to ensure visibility of the Union contribution, appropriate to its size.
4. The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.
Article 4
The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports to be prepared by the ISU. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation by the Council. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of this Decision.
Article 5
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
It shall expire 24 months after the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or six months after the date of its entry into force if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.
Done at Brussels, 13 November 2012.