1999D0320 — EN — 17.12.1999 — 001.001 — 1
Thisdocumentismeantpurelyasadocumentationtoolandtheinstitutionsdonotassumeanyliabilityforitscontents
►B COUNCIL DECISION
of 10 May 1999
adoptedbytheCouncilonthebasisofArticle14oftheTreatyonEuropeanUnion,onaEuropean
Union contribution to the collection and destruction of weapons in Albania
(1999/320/CFSP)
(OJ L 123, 13.5.1999, p. 12)
Amended by:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►M1 CouncilDecision 1999/846/CFSP of 17 December 1999 L 326 74 18.12.1999
1999D0320 — EN — 17.12.1999 — 001.001 — 2
▼B
COUNCIL DECISION
of 10 May 1999
adoptedbytheCouncilonthebasisofArticle14oftheTreatyon
EuropeanUnion,onaEuropeanUnioncontributiontothecollec-
tion and destruction of weapons in Albania
(1999/320/CFSP)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and
in particular Articles 14 and 28 thereof,
Having regard to Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP of 17 December 1998
adopted by the Councilon the basis of Articl e J.3 of the Treaty onEuropean Union, on the European Union’s contribution to combatingthe destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and lightweapons (
1),
(1) Whereas in Common Position 97/357/CFSP (2) the European
Union expressed its intention to help Albania to promote thedemocratic process, the return to political stability and internalsecurity;
(2) Whereas the excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spreadof small arms and light weapons poses a threat to peace andsecurity and reduces the prospects for sustainable development;whereas this is acutely the case in Albania;
(3) Whereas, in pursuing the objectives set out in Article 1 of JointAction 1999/34/CFSP, the European Union envisages operatingwithin the relevant international fora to give assistance to coun-tries requesting support for controlling or eliminating a surplus ofsmall arms in their territory, in particular where this may help toprevent armed conflict or in post-conflict situations in accordancewith Article 4 thereof; whereas this Decision is intended toimplement Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP;
(4) Whereas the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs(DDA) and Development Programme (UNDP) pilot project‘weapons in exchange for development in the Gramsh district ofAlbania' is intended to convince the population to turn in theirprivate weapons voluntarily while offering as an incentive thereconstruction of roads, installation of telephone lines and supplyof vehicles;
(5) Whereas the European Union considers that a financialcontribu-tion to the said project would pursue the aims of influencingpublic opinion in favour of civilian disarmament, improving thesecutiry situation in Albania as well as promoting the concept of‘weapons in exchange for development'as a model for replicationin other areas;
(6) Whereas the European Union intends therefore to offer financialsupport in accordance with Title II of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
▼M1
1. The European Union shall contribute to promoting the collection
(1) OJ L 9, 15.1.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 153, 11.6.1997, p. 4.
1999D0320 — EN — 17.12.1999 — 001.001 — 3
▼M1
and destruction of weapons in the districts of Gramsh, Elbasan andPeshkopja in Albania.
2. For this purpose, the European Union shall give financial support
to the DDA and UNDP pilot project on ‘weapons in exchange fordevelopment in the Gramsh district of Albania', as extended to theElbasan and Peshkopja districts of Albania.
▼
B
3. The European Union contribution shal lbe conditionalon theparticipation by European Union representatives in the NationalSteering Committee of the programme. Within this forum, the EuropeanUnion strongly for the destruction of all collected weapons.
Article 2
1. The European Union contribution referred to in Article 1 shall be
allocated to the disarmament component of the DDA and UNDP pilotproject. It shall finance the destruction of collected weapons, as well asthe setting up of an adequate mobile arms control team. For thispurpose, an amount of up to EUR 500 000 shall be charged to thegeneralbudget of the European Communities for 1999.
2. The management of the expenditure financed by the amount speci-
fied in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the procedures and rules of theCommunity applying to budget matters.
Article 3
1. The amount specified in Article 2(1) shall be allocated as follows:
(a) one third as soon as the approximately 5 000 weapons which have
already been collected are effectively destroyed,
(b) a second third once a further 10 000 weapons have been collected
and effectively destroyed,
(c) the remaining third, once a further 5 000 weapons have been
collected and effectively destroyed.
2. The Councilnotes that the Commission wil ldirect its action
towards achieving the objectives and priorities of this Decision byappropriate Community measures.
Article 4
1. The Presidency shall:
— ensure liaison with the relevant UN bodies,— establish with the Government of Albania the contacts needed to
implement this Decision, notably through participation in theNationalSteering Committee,
— keep the Councilinformed.
2. The Council shall, within six months of the adoption of this
Decision, examine its implementation with a view to considering furtherpossible initiatives in Albania.
Article 5
This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.
Article 6
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.