EN Official Journal of the European Union C 299/1

Sixth annual report on the implementation of the Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP of 12 July 2002 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of SALW

(2007/C 299/01)

INTRODUCTION

On 12 July 2002, the Council adopted Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons. It calls for an annual review of the actions taken within its framework. Five annual reports have been prepared since then.

The EU is a major player and contributor in the fight against the illicit spread and accumulation of SALW and their ammunition. Further to the 2003 European Security Strategy, the European Council adopted on 15-16 December 2005 an EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition. This document underlines the need for consistent EU policies in the areas of security and development, while exploiting fully the means available to the EU at multilateral and regional levels, inside the European Union and through its external relations. It serves as political guidance for EU activities in this field through the various instruments available and for its Member States.

The EU SALW Strategy continues to take into account Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP which has been used as a basis for specific actions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Balkans and most recently in Ukraine. Since 1999 around EUR 14,5 million of CFSP funds have been committed through decisions implementing this Joint Action.

Other relevant policies include the European Union Programme for the prevention of armed conflict calling for development assistance aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict, the European Union Programme for preventing and combating illicit trafficking in conventional arms and the European Union Guidelines for children in armed conflicts.

The EU remains at the forefront of the common fight and practical work to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and it is engaged in the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) at EU level. EU funding (through Member States, the EDF, Community funding and CFSP budget resources) remains one of the main sources of financial assistance to implement the UN PoA.

During the Review Conference of the UN PoA, the European Union presented on 30 June 2006 a comprehensive overview of its activities to support the fight against illicit small arms and light weapons. Representatives from the EU Presidency (Austria), the Council Secretariat/Office of the HR's Personal Representative and the European Commission presented the overall SALW policy based on the new EU Strategy on SALW and ammunition and explained how this is being translated into concrete activities through various instruments.

This report covers the Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP as well as the EU Programme for preventing and combating illicit trafficking in conventional arms adopted by the Council on 26 June 1997. It focuses on activities carried out during 2006. It has been prepared by the Council Secretariat and includes national contributions by Member States.

This report is structured in three parts and an annex:

— Part I covers Member States' efforts to address the problems relating to small arms and light weapons;

— Part II deals with international implementation efforts;

— Part III covers participation in the work of international and regional organisations;

— The annex lists focal points for SALW at national level and within the EU institutions.

I. NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS

AUSTRIA

Arms export controls have been greatly improved by the new Foreign Trade Act 2005 and the subsequent Regulation of 2006. After entry into force of the new Austrian Foreign Trade Act (FTA, ‘Außenhandelsgesetz’) in October 2005 the Foreign Trade Regulation (FTAR, Federal Law Gazette II, No 121/2006) implementing the FTA entered into force in early 2006. This implementing legislation harmonises the granting of licences with the relevant provisions of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and makes it obligatory for Austrian traders. Furthermore, it defines brokers and brokering activities in line with Council Common Position 2003/468/CFSP on the control of arms brokering.

The Austrian War Material Regulation and the Ministry of Economics and Labour’s list of military equipment other than war material correspond to the EU Common Military List. The Austrian list is constantly being updated in order to adapt it to the wording on the EU Common Military List. Under the new FTA, the items of the EU Common Military List are subject to a licence requirement for export, transit and brokering. Intra Community trade in goods on the EU Common Military List is — with certain exceptions — subject to a monitoring procedure. Technical assistance in connection with the development, production, handling, operation, maintenance or other servicing, stockpiling, testing or proliferation of conventional weapons systems with military capability is not granted if such assistance contradicts restrictive measures on the basis of EU Common Positions or EU Common Actions, OSCE Resolutions or binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Furthermore, a regulation passed by the Minister for Defence enumerates war material and other weapons which are taken into consideration for destruction. The list is compiled on the basis of definitions of the EU and the OSCE.

Procedure

In the run-up to Austria’s EU Presidency cooperation and coordination between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Economics Affairs and Labour and the Ministry of Defence have been further strengthened. Meetings involving these ministries are held on a regular basis.

BELGIUM

In line with its international commitments, Belgium adopted on 8 June 2006 a new law on arms, (published in the Belgian Official Journal (Moniteur Belge) on 9 June 2006) in order to better control, in particular, civilian possession of SALW.

BULGARIA

No new legislation was adopted. The mechanisms of national co-operation, inter-ministerial and inter-governmental co-ordination and the ways and means of information exchange between the respective administrative and law enforcement agencies are stipulated and defined by detail in the respective provisions of the existing ‘Law on Control of Foreign Trade Activity in Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies’. Information on legislative measures as provided in the 2002, 2003 and 2005 national reports on the UN SALW Programme of Action still applies.

With an amendment of 9 May 2006 to the Law on Control over Explosives, Firearms and Munitions, the European Firearms Pass (EFP) was introduced. The EFP is an official document issued to a person holding a permit to carry and use a firearm when s/he passes from the territory of one EU Member State to that of another. The EFP contains a number; expiry date; personal data of the person; and the type, brand, model, category, calibre and serial number of the firearm, as well as information on the type of firearm the pass is issued for and on bans or permits in the EU Member States concerned.

Although no changes have been introduced in the export control system for the reporting period, a process of reviewing the existing export control legislation was launched in 2006 with a view to Bulgaria’s accession to the EU on 1 January 2007. The main objective of this review process was to grant coherence and compliance with the EU provisions in the area of export control, as well as to further improve its practical implementation. As a result, the existing Law on Export Control in Arms and Dual-Use Items was amended by the Bulgarian National Assembly (and entered into force at the beginning of 2007). The ‘new’ Export Control Law keeps all the established export control measures regulating trade in arms and, in addition, enhances control measures for re-export, transit and brokering activities (strictly following the EU Common position EC/468/2003). In accordance with EU Common Position, for any brokering activity a registration of the broker is required as well as an individual licence for each brokering transaction.

The structure of the Bulgarian export control system remains as reported previously, with a strengthened interdepartmental information exchange. Bulgaria adheres to the responsible policy in the area of SALW control and implements the recommended measures established by the UN Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW to avoid illicit trafficking and inappropriate re-export, with respect for human rights in the country of final destination and for international peace and regional stability. The measures are directed also to preventing the use of arms for internal repressions, as well as for the purposes of terrorism or organised crime.

In 2006 the National Customs Agency organised several courses and trained 50 customs officers in the field of combating illicit arms trafficking with a special focus on SALW.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has submitted the following information relating to the national activities on SALW in 2006:

— No changes in the systems of control, accountability and safety of arms caches in the Bulgarian Army compared with those previously reported;

— No changes in numbers of SALW and ammunition, reported as Army surplus;

— No destruction of SALW and ammunitions took place in 2006.

CYPRUS

The export, transit and retransfer of SALW are regulated by Law 354/2002, ‘The Defence Export Regulations of 2002’, as amended by Law 602/2004. The aforementioned Laws are aligned with the European Code of Conduct on arms exports and with Common Position 2000/C 191/01. The export, including re-export, of SALW is controlled under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the transit and retransfer of SALW comes under the authority of the Customs and Excise Authority according to the provisions of the Customs legislation.

The import, acquisition, possession and transport of SALW are regulated by Law 113(1)/2004 ‘On Firearms and non-Firearms’. The Law is aligned with European Union Directive 91/477 EC as amended and with Common Position 2000/C 191/01.

The manufacture of certain SALW is regulated by Law 113(I)/2004 (Part III, Article 7(I). Based on that Law, manufacture by citizens or residents of the Republic, is prohibited, unless they hold a valid licence for this purpose, which is issued by the Chief of Police. This specific licence is provided for citizens, under conditions provided in the law. The conditions include, among other things, the absence of any criminal record on the part of the applicant, an investigation as to whether holding the licence would endanger the applicant, the government or public order and, finally, the condition passing of a governmental medical examination. The illegal manufacture, possession, stockpiling and trade of SALW is governed by Law 113(I)2004. The Law provides for sentences of up to 15 years' imprisonment and/or a fine of 25 000 Cyprus pounds for violation of its provisions.

Within the Cyprus Police Headquarters, a special branch for keeping records (national arms archive) has been established and an electronic database facilitates the sharing of information on SALW with other competent authorities in the EU, regional organisations and other countries.

CZECH REPUBLIC

The categories of weapons listed in the Annex to the Council Joint Action of 12 July 2002 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons and repealing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP (2002/589/CFSP) are in service primarily with the Czech Republic's Army and, to a lesser degree, with other security forces (Czech Republic Police, Prison and Court Guards Service, Customs Service, Security Information Service). Information on the numbers of weapons held by these forces is not disclosed to the public; the handling of such weapons (use, record-keeping, storage) falls outside the scope of the Arms Act (Act No 119/2002). Once the weapons are removed from service with these forces, they become subject to the Arms Act.

Possession of these categories of weapons for civilian use is subject to exemptions granted by the Czech Republic Police (Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives Inspectorates at District Police Headquarters) pursuant to Section 9 of the Arms Act.

By 31 December 2006, arms permit holders in the Czech Republic received 627 permits to possess or carry this type of weapons. 110 new exemptions were granted to arms permit holders in 2006. Arms licence holders were allowed to possess or carry 791 weapons of this type (chiefly for use in film or theatre, or by private security agencies). No new exemptions were granted to arms licence holders in 2006. The Police are authorised to check the measures taken by owners to prevent loss or theft and to ensure safe handling of their weapons. The Police have adequate powers for this purpose, including the right to carry out inspections at the weapon owner's home.

Trade in these weapons is subject to different legislation, in particular the Foreign Trade in Military Material Act (Act No 38/1994). The trader must first obtain a permit from the Licensing Authority at the Ministry of Industry, and then seek a separate licence for each transaction. Each licence application is considered also by the Ministry of the Interior, in the light of public order and internal security considerations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the light of foreign policy interests. In 2006 the Czech Republic permitted non-commercial exports of 238 weapons of this type, all of them to EU countries. In all cases the weapons were exported to EU countries with their prior consent. No prohibited weapon was exported on this basis to a non-EU country in 2006.

An amendment to the Act regulating foreign trade in military material (Act No 38/1994 as amended) is currently being drafted, with the aim of significantly strengthening the Czech customs authorities' power control.

DENMARK

The Danish Ministry of Justice administers the Danish weapons and explosives legislation, which also includes the regulation of small arms and light weapons.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Danish weapons and explosives legislation, weapons and ammunition may not be imported, manufactured, acquired, possessed or carried without a licence from the Minister of Justice or from the person authorised by the Minister to issue such licences.

The legislation also stipulates that weapons or explosives of any kind, including ammunition, may not be exported without a specific licence from the Minister for Justice. This provision also includes small arms and light weapons.

The Minister for Justice has authorised the local police districts to issue certain of the abovementioned licences concerning small arms and light weapons (possession of firearms etc.).

Databases and registers

The Danish police has established a central electronic database (The Police Weapons Register) in which all persons authorised to possess firearms are registered on the basis of applications received for firearms licences and registrations of purchases of smoothbore shotguns, etc. The register also contains information on lost and stolen weapons.

The Police Weapons Register includes all relevant information including category and type of weapon, manufacture, model, marking (number), calibre and special characteristics. Each weapon is registered under a specific identification number. The police may order that the weapon be marked with the identification number if the weapon is not marked by the manufacturer. The register also includes historical information which makes it possible to locate information on previous owners of a weapon.

Information on lost firearms etc. is also reported to the Schengen Information System (SIS).

All Danish rifle associations are furthermore required to establish their own weapons registers which must include information on all firearms owned by the association and its members.

Recent legislative initiatives

There have been no legislative SALW -initiatives in 2006.

On 1 October 2004 a new act containing rules on transportation of weapons between third countries (i.e. countries than Denmark) entered into force. The rules ban transportation of weapons etc. to countries covered by a UN, EU or OSCE arms embargo. Furthermore, transportation between third countries that have not issued the necessary export and import licenses is banned.

Furthermore, on 14 June 2005 the Danish Parliament adopted an act introducing, among other things, regulation on arms brokering. According to this act, without a licence from the Minister for Justice, or from the person authorised by the Minister, a broker is prohibited from negotiating or arranging transactions that involve the transfer of weapons etc., as defined in the Danish weapons and explosives legislation, between countries outside the EU. Furthermore, it is prohibited to buy or sell such weapons etc. as part of a transfer between countries outside the EU, or for the owner of the weapons etc., to arrange such a transfer. The ban does not apply to activities carried out in another EU Member State or outside the EU by Danish individuals residing abroad. The act implements European Council Common Position 2003/468/CFSP of 23 June 2003 on the control of arms brokering.

Recent enforcement initiatives

To improve national measures for criminal investigation, the Danish police have taken the initiative in 2006 in a national SALW -project ‘Project Firearms’ regarding the tracing, updating and registering of arms.

ESTONIA

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons entered into force in 2006.

The process of amending and adapting the Weapons Act (which entered into force on 31.3.2002) was initiated in 2005 and was concluded in early 2007. This Act establishes the legal bases and procedure for the handling of weapons and ammunition, the grant of permission for weapons and ammunition to be used for civilian purposes, the use of weapons and ammunition for civilian purposes and the removal of weapons and ammunition from civilian use, the requirements for firing ranges and field firing ranges, and the bases and procedure for the exercise of state supervision in such areas.

In June 2006 Estonian Defence Forces destroyed 6 000 old pistols.

There is a Strategic Goods Commission established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a licensing body which is composed of the representatives of MFA, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Security Police Board, Estonian Tax and Customs Board, and Estonian Law Enforcement Board. The Strategic Goods Commission has always considered the promotion of training relating to the topic of strategic goods to be very important. In the autumn term of 2006, enhanced lectures on the international export control system and strategic goods control in Estonia were held for the students of taxation and customs of the Financial College of the Public Service Academy.

FINLAND

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of information between administrative and law enforcement agencies

In May 2006, a meeting of the National Coordination Group of SALW Experts took place. The National Coordination Group of SALW Experts includes the representatives of the ministries involved with arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation of SALW and the representatives of national non-governmental organisations dealing with the issue. The group discusses inter alia Finnish policy concerning SALW, implementation of the national, regional and global provisions and regulations and bilateral assistance to SALW projects. The group meets regularly under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and it has representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The representatives from other authorities (customs, border control, etc.) are invited to participate whenever necessary. Non-governmental organisations are invited regularly.

Newly enacted legislation, reviews of the practical functioning of existing legislation

The Firearms Amnesty legislation was approved by the Parliament at the end of 2003 and it came into force on 1 January 2004. The purpose of the legislation is to decrease the number of illegal and unregistered weapons in Finland. Since the legislation entered into force, it has been possible to surrender illegal small arms, ammunition and explosives to the police without any legal consequences if they have not been used in a criminal act. The total number of firearms surrendered was approximately 4 000 during the year 2006.

The owner of an illegal firearm can also apply for a licence to keep the gun or to transfer it to another licence holder via the police. Those arms that the owner does not wish to keep or transfer to another licence holder are deactivated or rendered to the state. Some of them are sold by the police in official public auctions to collectors and other licensed arms holders.

FRANCE

Brokering

A law has been drafted establishing a prior authorisation system for transactions by brokers and is to be examined by the parliament shortly. This control system will apply to persons resident or established in France and will include legal penalties. Purchasing and resale transactions carried out abroad by persons resident or established, which escape the export control procedures, will be subject to the same conditions.

A draft implementing decree for these provisions has also been drawn up. The establishment of a prior control regime for transactions by dealers will thus be added to the controls on natural or legal persons acting as dealers.

Embargos

A proposal for a law has been drafted to amend the penal code and is to be examined by the parliament shortly. It defines an embargo and provides for penal sanctions if there is a violation of an embargo or restrictive measures.

Other initiatives

For several years, France has shown increased transparency in an annual report to parliament on arms exports, which is distributed not only in France but also abroad (embassies and international organisations). The report presents national control practices, and international exercises in the export control field in which France participates. It also contains many statistics, including those on exports of small arms and light weapons.

GERMANY

Regular meetings of the national coordination group for SALW issues were organised by the national focal point. These meetings bring together arms and export control experts from ministries, administration, non-governmental organisations and industry in order to address questions relating to small arms and light weapons including their ammunition. The group discusses inter alia German policy with regard to SALW in international and regional fora, multilateral and bilateral assistance as well as the implementation of national, regional and global provisions and regulations. The meetings are chaired by a representative of the Federal Foreign Office.

Various initiatives were taken with regard to cooperation between administrative bodies and law enforcement agencies at national level. These covered newly enacted legislation, but also reviews of the practical functioning of existing legislation. Training measures were a regular part of such efforts. In 2006, these initiatives included the following:

In order to implement the EU Common Position on brokering (2003/468/CFSP), Germany has amended its export legislation. Each individual case of arms brokering relating to war weapons and other military equipment located outside Germany requires a license. In principle the German law on arms brokering is based on a territorial link, i.e. it is not applicable in cases without any link to German territory. However, when German citizens located in Germany engage into brokering abroad without any linkage to German territory, this constitutes, however, a license requirement.

In order to implement the UN instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, Germany has begun to introduce various measures with regard to national marking and tracing practices and respective standards.

For exports of military SALW outside NATO, EU and NATO-equivalent countries, Germany has continued to apply the so-called ‘new for old’ principle so as to ensure that the recipient whenever possible destroys weapons that are to be replaced by the new consignment, rather than reselling them. In general, exports of military SALW are not licensed to private end-users.

Germany signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism on 24 October 2006.

GREECE

For 2006 the target set in the framework of crime policy was to increase the confiscations of illegally possessed and traded SALW, through the drafting of specialised, -targeted action plans by competent Police Authorities.

A. Efforts focused on two directions:

1. control of legal trade in arms, throughout all its stages (import, trade, possession, use);

2. intensification of controls, in cooperation with other competent authorities, aiming at tracking down and confiscating illegally imported, traded, possessed and used Small Arms and Light Weapons.

a) Measures for controlling the legal trade in SALW:

— The Ministry of Public Order runs an electronic database, which is the National Central Authority for information sharing and is able to directly receive and forward information on all legally traded and possessed weapons. This database is constantly updated to include any changes in possession status.

— All missing weapons — whether they are lost, stolen, embezzled, tracked — are entered into this database in order to be confiscated or used as evidence in criminal proceedings, they have been identified in the event that they are tracked down. This database gives the history of each arm/weapon, from its import up to its end legal holder (arms records).

Furthermore, this database facilitates SALW information exchange with other authorities inside and outside Greece.

— A minimum number of controls has been established for each month in every enterprise that is legally activate in arms trading. Control data are cross- checked in the electronic database.

— The provisions of the applicable Law 2168/1993 and the relevant Ministerial Decisions are strictly observed. These regulations constitute the major regulatory framework in Greece governing the issues of arms and weapons. This Law has been harmonized with Directive 91/477/EEC and the Schengen Convention. In some cases, this regulatory framework includes even stricter provisions (Article 15 of Law 2168/1993 and Article 272 of the Criminal Code, as amended by Law 2928/2001).

— Legal trade in small arms and weapons in Greece (import — export — trade and transit) requires a special license issued by the competent authority, according to the provisions of Law 2168/1993.

— There is excellent cooperation with other prosecution authorities in Greece (port and customs authorities, Body for the Prosecution of Economic Crimes) as well as with the Military Authorities, so as to share information with the competent authorities of the countries from which arms and weapons are imported in or transported to Greece.

b) Measures for controlling the illegal trade in SALW:

Since bilateral cooperation at regional and international level is deemed to be indispensable for the prevention and suppression of illegal trade in arms and weapons from one country to another, Greece has signed police cooperation agreements with its neighbouring countries and participate in international, regional and bilateral organizations (Adriatic — Ionian Initiative, SECI EUROPOL — INTERPOL).

— Vehicles and persons entering Greece are checked at the established points of entry.

— Constant controls are carried out at the land and sea borders (in cooperation with port authorities) to prevent illegal imports of weapons by persons who enter Greece illegally.

— Disclosed cases are thoroughly investigated, in order to detect and dismantle networks that may be active in the illegal trade in weapons and arms.

— Special measures are taken in areas with intense problems of trading, possession and use of arms, in cooperation with local communities and bodies.

At this stage, a procedure is under way concerning the amendment of some provisions of the basic national legislation on arms with a view to the introduction of certain new regulations, such as on the recording of persons who act as mediators in arms transactions (brokers — brokerage) and the definition of specific activities which should be subject to control and licensing.

As regards marking:

— In Greece there are no companies that produce weapons/arms for commercial use. There is only one State Company which produces arms for the Ministry of Defence.

— As regards the method of marking the producer country, Greece supports the NATO STANAG 1 059 marking system.

Total number of confiscated arms/weapons by the Greek Police in 2006: 1 179 (88 automatic rifles/rifles, 303 pistols, 114 handguns, 674 hunting guns). Such arms/weapons constitute evidence in legal proceedings and it is up to the competent courts to decide upon their fate, according to Article 16 of Law 2168/1993.

HUNGARY

The Hungarian licensing system has three tiers with fairly strict procedures. This system includes the following procedural steps:

1. Activity Licence (i.e registration of traders).

2. Those registered traders planning to engage in business talks with foreign partners have to obtain a Licence for Negotiation in advance that allows them to proceed with negotiations and to conclude a contract.

3. Then, to perform a contract, the applicant has to obtain a Contract Licence (authorisation of export/import).

The Hungarian Trade Licensing Office is mandated to issue all licences relating to trade in military equipment including ammunition and services. Licence applications are considered and granted on a case-by-case basis. ‘Open’ or ‘general licences’ do not exist in the Hungarian export control system for conventional arms. Licences are issued following the approval of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Foreign Trade in Military Equipment (hereinafter ‘the ICTME’). This body is responsible for policy guidance. Representatives of all ministries and national authorities concerned, including members of the intelligence services, sit on the ICTME.

Government Decree 16/2004 (II.6.) incorporates regulations for transit shipments, applying the same procedural rules as in the case of exports. It means that all transit applications have to be submitted in advance and are assessed with equal scrutiny, case- by- case and against the same criteria as export applications. Only companies established in Hungary are entitled to apply for transit licences. The transit licences in the case of lethal military equipment, live ammunition, explosives and other dangerous goods require the responsible shipper to have an armed security escort along the transit route: from the point of entry up to the point of exit.

The illegal manufacture, possession, trade, stockpiling or transfer of SALW constitutes a criminal offence. Groups, companies and individuals engaged in such activities are identified and prosecuted.

In order to control arms brokering and to avoid circumvention of UN, EU or OSCE embargoes on arms exports, as well as of the criteria set out in the European Union’s Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, Government Decree 16/2004 (II.6.) takes into account the recommendations and Best Practice Guidelines of the relevant international organisations and Common Position 2003/468/CFSP on the control of brokering adopted by the Council of the European Union on 23 June 2003.

Article 2(2)(c) of the Government Decree states that ‘in order to act as a representative, agent, broker or intermediary in respect of military equipment or technical assistance, whether within or outside the territory of the Republic of Hungary, the licences required are: activity licence, negotiating licence and contract licence’.

This means that Hungary controls brokering activities carried out both inside and outside its territory, by brokers who are Hungarian residents or established in the territory of the Republic of Hungary.

As in the case of exports, in the case of brokering all applications are assessed, inter alia, against the provisions of the European Union’s Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. The Hungarian Trade Licensing Office keeps records for a minimum of 10 years of all persons and entities which have obtained a licence for brokering activities. A register of arms brokers is also established, but the registration or authorisation to act as broker under no circumstances replaces the requirement to obtain the necessary licence or written authorisation for each transaction. When assessing applications to act as brokers, the Hungarian Trade Licensing Office takes into account the records of past involvements in illicit activities by the applicant.

IRELAND

In 2006 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment drafted new legislation on export controls, which was published in January 2007. The new legislation once enacted will modernise and strengthen Ireland’s strategic controls system as well as ensuring full compliance with Ireland’s international export control obligations.

There is no specific national legislation on the transit of small arms and light weapons. Under current Irish legislation, however, the import, transit, re-transfer and export of small arms and light weapons to and from EU countries must be licensed in accordance with the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 2006 and the EC (Acquisition and Possession of) Weapons and Ammunition Regulations, 1993. Exports of firearms to all countries are also subject to the Control of Exports Act, 1983 and Orders made under that Act. At present, the relevant Order is the Control of Exports Order, 2005, which includes pistols and ‘component parts thereof’ in relation to general military equipment.

In order to export a firearm, there are varying legal requirements depending on the destination. Should the applicant not be in possession of a valid firearms certificate for the firearm to be exported he must obtain an Authorisation for Export from An Garda Síochána (the national police force). In addition, for exports to Member States of the European Union, an export licence is required from the Minster for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In the case of exports to countries outside the EU, an export licence is required from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

With regard to the importation of small arms and light weapons, an import licence granted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is required for an applicant not in possession of a valid firearm certificate for the firearm in question. Where a valid firearm certificate exists for the firearm proposed to be imported, a prior consent (Article 11) document is required to bring the firearm into the State, in accordance with EC Directive 91/477/EEC.

No small arms or light weapons are currently manufactured in Ireland. It is an offence to manufacture firearms without being registered to manufacture by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Firearms present in Ireland would be marked in the case of manufacture outside the State. Some older firearms may not be marked, in which case An Garda Síochána (the national police force) is responsible for marking them. Firearms dealers are required to keep records of each transfer of a firearm for a minimum of 5 years. Collection and disposal of small arms and light weapons fall under the remit of An Garda Síochána and the Irish Defence Forces. Stockpile management and security are under the remit of the Department of Justice and the Department of Defence.

A wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts, 1925-2000 were enacted by the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Certain provisions of the Act relating to firearms have yet to be commenced by the Minister, including those which provide for 3-year licences for legally held firearms, minimum standards for the keeping of firearms by individuals and firearms dealers, and minimum standards for firearms ranges. In addition, the Minister may by Statutory Instrument declare specified firearms and ammunition to be restricted. Applications for a restricted firearm may be made to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána subject to compliance with certain conditions

ITALY

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of information between administrative and law enforcement agencies

In 2006, the ad hoc working group on small arms and light weapons — established in Italy since June 2000 under the co-ordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and which includes representatives of relevant ministries, law enforcement administrations and interested national industrial associations — met once.

Discussions were mainly focused on the preparation of the 2006 Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) against the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, on the implementation of the multilateral instrument on marking and tracing as well as on the implementation of the EU Common Position regulating brokering activities. Due consideration was also given to the debate in other relevant multilateral fora (UNGA First Committee, OSCE, Wassenaar Agreement, G8).

Newly enacted legislation

Italy ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Crime and its Protocols (including the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition) on 16 March 2006 with Law No 146/2006. Italian law on firearms has been amended accordingly, in particular with regard to the storage of information relating to firearms for no less than ten years and marking to indicate the country of manufacture.

Other initiatives

In 2006, Italian armed forces destroyed the following small arms and light weapons, identified as surplus:

— 770 Beretta pistols, mod. ‘34’;

— 93 697 Garand M1 rifles;

— 37 390 FAL BM59 assault rifles;

— 8 231 miscellaneous.

Total: 140 088 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

LATVIA

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons was introduced in 2006.

Some amendments to the existing legislation regarding more efficient export controls are to be introduced in the near future. For example, a new draft Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods will define more precisely the control institutions, their responsibilities and co-operation, as well as the terms used in the law, including brokering. New regulations defining national lists of controlled goods as well as the order of issuing different types of licences are to be passed as well.

The Law on Arms Circulation came into force on January 2003. It regulates arms matters in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with international requirements and harmonises national legislation in this respect, determining the rights and obligations of physical and legal persons with regard to the circulation of arms and weapons, their parts, ammunition, explosives, explosives equipment, special devices and pyrotechnic products in the Republic of Latvia and determining classification of these items for the purpose of guaranteeing individual and public safety. The Law has not been amended since 2003. Some additional legislative acts regulating the circulation of arms in Latvia were passed in 2003 and 2004.

The Law on Arms Circulation provides that all transactions involving small arms and light weapons require an export, import or transit licence for strategic goods. The Strategic Goods Control Committee issues these licences. An end-use certificate is one of the preconditions for export and transit through the territory of the Republic of Latvia. The requirements and conditions of the certificate are drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and shall be required as provided in the Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods.

The Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods (May 2004) is designed to ensure control over the circulation of strategic goods in accordance with national and international requirements for monitoring their export, import and transit.

In total the police confiscated 569 firearms in 2006. With regard to different offences, the police seized illegally acquired and stored firearms — 16 pistols/revolvers, 16 carbines, 14 shot-guns, 2 small-calibre rifles, 1 pneumatic pistol, 2 self-made pistols.

LITHUANIA

On 6 April 2006 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania amended the Law on the Control of Strategic Goods, which was adopted on 29 April 2004. The amendment inter alia modified the list of restrictions on issuance of licences and modified the definition of brokering (modification is highlighted). As of 1 July 2006, when the amended law entered into force, the brokering denotes negotiations conducted or arrangement or performance of transactions by natural and legal persons resident or registered in the Republic of Lithuania and by subsidiaries of foreign legal persons and other organisations during which the goods included in the Common List of Military Equipment can be transferred outside the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, the territory of another Member State of the European Union or a non-Member State to any other non-Member State.

The Temporary Law on Voluntary Return of Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives and Legitimation of Weapons and Ammunition entered into force on 1 October 2006 and is valid until 31 March 2007. The Law grants amnesty from legal liability for persons who decide to give up illegally owned arms, ammunition and explosives. It establishes a legal framework to withdraw illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives from civil circulation.

The list of countries under UN or EU arms embargoes was constantly renewed. The current list is provided in the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 237 on the Approval of the List of the States to which the Export or Transit of the Goods Listed in the Common Military List is Prohibited and for which Brokering in Negotiations and Transactions in the Goods Listed in the Common Military List is Prohibited.

The Law on the Control of Arms and Ammunition is in the process of revision at the present time. Among other amendments, full compliance with the Firearms Protocol will be attained.

LUXEMBOURG

No new legislation was introduced in 2006.

The relevant legal basis is to be found in the Law of 15 March 1983 on arms and ammunition and in the Grand Ducal Regulation of 31 October 1995 on the import, export and transit of arms, ammunition and equipment intended specifically for military use and of related technology. These are published in the Mémorial, Luxembourg's official gazette. The existing legislation is currently under review.

Prohibited arms

Article 4 of the Law of 15 March 1983 on arms and ammunition prohibits the import, manufacture, conversion, repair, acquisition, purchase, holding, storage, transport, carrying, transfer, sale or export of, or trade in, certain types of arms and ammunition. Notwithstanding that provision, however, the Minister for Justice may in particular authorise:

a) the import, acquisition, purchase, transport, holding, sale, transfer or export of, or trade in, arms and ammunition constituting antiques, works of art or decorative items or intended to form part of a collection or display; authorisation may be subject to the condition that the arm has been permanently disabled;

b) the import, acquisition, purchase, transport, holding, sale, transfer or export of arms and ammunition for scientific or educational purposes;

c) the import, export or transit of arms from abroad which are heading for another country.

Such authorisation may be subject to the condition that the arms in question cannot be used for any purpose other than those stated above.

Luxembourg does not have any national marking system for use in the manufacture and/or import of small arms. There is no arms factory in the country. Gunsmiths and dealers in arms and ammunition have to keep a register showing incoming and outgoing arms, with the make, calibre and serial number of each arm and the names and addresses of its supplier and purchaser. The register must also show the number and date of issue of the ministerial authorisation. It must be produced at the request of any representative of the public authorities. Gunsmiths and arms dealers may be required to supply the Minister for Justice with a copy of their register. The maximum quantities of arms and ammunition which gunsmiths and arms dealers are allowed to hold in stock are set by the Minister for Justice.

In the event of riots, suspicious gatherings or public order disturbances, the Minister for Justice may order the closure or evacuation of any arms and ammunition shops or stores and the transfer of their contents to a specified location.

Breaches of the Law of 15 March 1983 are punishable by imprisonment for from eight days up to five years.

Export

If an arm is purchased in Luxembourg for export, the gunsmith will apply to the Ministry of Justice for the seller to be issued with a licence to export the arm, i.e. transport it from the place of purchase to the border. Applications for export licences for arms, ammunition and equipment intended specifically for military use and for related technology have to be accompanied by an international import licence or end-use certificate. The Grand Ducal Regulation of 31 October 1995, as amended, makes provision for the form and content of those documents to be laid down by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cooperation.

Under Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Article 11), Luxembourg notifies the other Member States concerned of licences issued for export to their countries.

The licensing office may require applications for transit of arms, ammunition and equipment intended specifically for military use and of related technology to be accompanied by a document in which the competent authorities in the country from which the goods come certify that export to the stated country of destination is authorised.

Applications for export or transit licences have to be accompanied by an undertaking, signed by the applicant, to carry out the export or transit operation in accordance with the licence application. After each consignment of goods covered by an export licence, the exporter has to provide the licensing office, within three months, with proof that they have arrived in the authorised country of destination and that the importer has had them cleared for home use.

Such proof is provided either by a document issued by the importing country's customs authorities, showing that the exported goods have been declared for home use, or by any other document showing the goods to have been directly taken receipt of by the authority qualified to do so in the importing country or by any business acting for that authority.

Destruction of arms

The method used in Luxembourg (by its army, police and customs) is destruction of arms by severing. This is carried out by their respective armouries. The cut-up metal is all placed in a container and then transported by armoury staff to a steelworks, where it is melted down in electronic blast furnaces, in the presence of witnesses. A record of the operation is then drawn up.

MALTA

Malta has taken adequate action to issue two new legal notices L.N. 167/2006 and L.N. 168/2006. In the first legal notice the division sought legal coverage as regards the importation and exportation of equipment that might be related to capital punishment, torture, or some other inhuman and degrading treatment. In essence this legal notice prohibited technical assistance linked to the repair, development, manufacture, assembly, testing, maintenance and all other sorts of technical support linked to the provision of such equipment. Furthermore, nobody was allowed to import items listed in the first schedule attached to this legal notice, irrespective of the origin of these items.

Moreover, no person was allowed to receive technical assistance relating to these items irrespective of whether the request came from an individual or an organization.

The export of these items was also made subject to an export authorisation irrespective of the origin of these items. The export of items that could be used for torture is allowed only when they are to be exported to an EU Member State or to any of their affiliated territories, and if these items are to be used by members of the EU or of the UN in peace keeping operations in a particular destination. Still it was left to the discretion of customs to verify the authenticity of this declaration, rendering the breaking of these conditions punishable at law, with a fine totalling not more than 5 000 Maltese Liri or imprisonment for a period of not more than 5 years.

Legal notice 168/2006 adopted EU legislation 1330/2004 and essentially incorporated it into the national Maltese legislation. This regulation divides a list of military equipment into 22 subcategories, all of which are subject to an authorisation before the same items are eventually exported. The list starts with, inter alia, conventional equipment and ammunition (ML1-ML5), ground vehicles and equipment (ML6), chemical and toxic agents (ML7), energy materials, vessels of war, aircraft, electronic equipment, high-velocity energy equipment, armoured and protective equipment.

In the case of these items and of dual-use equipment the division takes care to process the application on its own merits and in full conformity with national law and also international commitments.

NETHERLANDS

With respect to legislation on small arms and light weapons, in 2006 the Netherlands made no modifications.

POLAND

Legal measures

The Polish legal system pertaining to arms transfers contains no specific provisions relating to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The legal provisions in force — the Law of 29 November 2000, on foreign trade in goods, technologies and services of strategic significance for state security, and the maintenance of international peace and security (unified text, Journal of Laws of 2004, No 229, item 2315) — established a unified control system of export, import, transit and related services concerning dual-use goods and technologies, arms and technical assistance (1). The Ministry of Economy is currently verifying it, with the aim of introducing changes that will simplify and tighten the export control system, and at the same time make it more favourable to exporters.

The provisions of the Law of 22 June 2001, on the implementation of business activity in the scope of production and trade of explosives, weapon, ammunition, products and technologies used by Armed Forces and Police (Journal of Laws of 2001, No 67, item 679 with subsequent amendments) were brought into line with Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons. The Law of 23 June 2006 on changes of certain laws in connection with the membership of the Republic of Poland in the European Union (Journal of Laws No 133, item 935) amended the stipulations of Article 3 by adding a new Chapter 5 a, introducing the obligation for entrepreneurs transporting arms and ammunition on the territory of the EU to confirm transport permits and preliminary transport permits. These documents accompany every transport of SALW and ammunition to Poland from EU countries, from Poland to EU countries, and during transit across the Polish territory. The goal is to assure the authorities of the countries of origin and destination that the entrepreneur is authorised to perform activities connected with trade in the kinds of arms and ammunition specified in the documents.

On 13 June 2006 the Council of Ministers amended the annex to the Ordinance of 23 November 2004 on bans and restrictions on transfers of goods of strategic importance for the state security (Journal of Laws of 28 June 2006, No 109, item 750). The amended annex contains a list of States to which arms exports are prohibited due to relevant UN and EU sanctions. The main changes to the Ordinance include application of an arms embargo to Uzbekistan and cancellation of sanctions against Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Administrative measures

Before obtaining a permit/concession for activities connected with the production of or trade in arms and ammunition, entrepreneurs are obliged to attend training and pass appropriate exams. The Ministry of Economy organised 31 workshops and courses devoted to arms export control and the internal control system for entrepreneurs trading in goods, technologies and services of strategic importance, including SALW. A total of 672 persons from 130 firms participated in training courses organised in 2006. The issues covered by the UN Programme of Action in SALW and relevant EU documents were also included.

Although Poland has not exported Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) to date, steps were undertaken to fully implement the recommendations of the Wassenaar Arrangement contained in the document ‘Elements for Export Controls of MANPADS’ and procedures were adopted in view of their possible export in the future. Potential licence applications for export of MANPADS will be processed in accordance with the abovementioned Law of 29 November 2000.

Adequate inventory management and accounting control procedures have been implemented at all levels of responsibility for stockpile facilities. A system of regular reporting and communication between these levels has also been organised. Each facility is obliged to maintain the required records on all stored SALW from the moment it takes control of them, through the various movements of the stock, until it is expended or decommissioned.

Enforcement

The Polish customs regulations remained unchanged during the reporting period. In 2006 the Customs Service further strengthened control of border crossings (road, maritime and airports) for illegal trafficking in goods, including SALW. A number of new X-ray scanners for cars and also trucks were installed. Special attention was devoted to Poland’s eastern borders. These steps allowed customs officers to expose and prevent illegal trafficking in 42 small arms (rifles and pistols) and 145 728 items of ammunition.

In 2006 the Border Guard Service disclosed attempts to smuggle 49 firearms, 1 755 items of firearms ammunition and 66 grenades; of this number — 34 firearms and 685 items of ammunition were confiscated beyond the border crossing area. The value of the smuggled weapons and ammunition amounted in total to PLN 8 860. The Border Guard Service initiated 19 preparatory procedures concerning smuggling attempts, 12 of them committed on the eastern border of the EU.

PORTUGAL

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of information between administrative and law enforcement agencies

Efforts to foster co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of information between administrative and law enforcement agencies in combating the accumulation and spread of SALW, as well as preventing illicit trafficking have continued. The establishment in 2005 of a coordination group composed of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Portuguese Intelligence Services and the Ministry of Finance contributed to better articulate the work of all the entities involved.

Newly enacted legislation

The licensing of import and export of the categories of weapons listed in the Annex to the Council Joint Action is primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.

For each transaction involving small arms and light weapons, a permit must be obtained from the Licensing Authority (at the Ministry of Defence or at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, depending on whether the weapons are for military or civil use).

Each application is also considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the light of foreign policy interests, including observation of the criteria enshrined in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

In 2006, a new legal framework entered into force covering the production, repair, import, export, transfer, stockpile, circulation, trade, licensing, acquisition and possession of small arms and light weapons, their components and ammunition.

Law 5/2006 establishes a comprehensive regime, including criminal sanctions for illicit possession, trafficking and brokering for all the categories of weapons listed in the Annex to the Council Joint Action of 12 July 2002.

ROMANIA

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons was adopted in 2006.

Information on the legal framework and legislative measures as provided in national reports on the UN PoA on SALW still applies. Romania has had adequate legislation and an appropriate administrative system to exercise effective control over the trade of small arms and light weapons since 1993.

The national export control system for conventional arms consists of a legal framework, national control lists, a national export control authority and other public institutions, principles, procedures, the authorisation process, registration, licensing and control activities, export control documentation, as well as cooperation and international assistance.

The control of exports, imports and other operations with conventional arms is regulated by Government Ordinance No 158/1999 approved with amendments by Law No 595/2004. Significantly, Romanian legislation contains provisions regarding international arms brokering, incorporating the provisions stipulated in Common Position 2003/468/CFSP adopted by the Council of the European Union on 23 June 2003. In the case of brokering activities, all applications are assessed, inter alia, against the provisions of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports.

All re-export operations with conventional arms, including SALW, are subject to the provisions of the Government Ordinance No 158/1999 approved with amendments by Law No 595/2004.

The first step that must be taken is, according to Romanian legislation, to authorise companies to trade in conventional arms. Licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Licences are issued taking into account the advice given by the Inter-agency Council for the control of exports, imports and other trade operations with military goods, which comprises representatives of all ministries and national authorities concerned, including members of intelligence services.

Permits for international transit, transshipment and non-commercial activities with conventional weapons are granted on a case-by-case basis.

In Romania, several ministries are involved in implementing the national legislation and are represented in international activities in the field of small arms and light weapons, but the National Agency for Exports Control (ANCEX) remains the coordinating authority in the field of exports control legislation. In cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism and Arms Control Division (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), ANCEX participates in all relevant international activities.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administrative Reform — General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (GIRP) — controls the way in which natural or legal persons are granted authorisation to obtain, possess, hold, bear and use firearms and ammunition. At the same time, according to Law No 295/2004 regarding firearms and ammunition, which has been harmonised with Directive 91/477 EEC, the GIRP holds a record of all legal bearers of lethal and non-lethal weapons and updates the database of the National Register of Weapons (www.politiaromana.ro).

There have been no major SALW initiatives in 2006, but the Government of Romania has continued to carry out important outreach work with companies and individuals operating within the national defense industry in order to improve understanding of and compliance with arms control legislation. ANCEX provides this information for traders through its website (www.ancex.ro) and runs various seminars and workshops on this topic.

Furthermore, in accordance with the international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 2005, ANCEX has established a register of transferred arms. This document comprises records of the exports and imports of SALW, with serial number, type, quantity, origin and other relevant information about the transfers.

SLOVAKIA

As regards the national implementation of the EU Joint Action on SALW and the EU Programme for Preventing and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Conventional Arms, the following acts have been adopted:

Act No 179/1998 Coll. of 15 May 1998 on Trade in Military Material and amending Trade Business Act No 455/1991 Coll. regulates inter alia the conditions for trade in military small arms and light weapons, the conditions for brokering activities, and the operation of state administration authorities in that connection. During 2006 Slovakia has fully implemented all relevant national legislative norms.

The following national authorities are involved in the implementation process:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

2. Ministry of the Economy;

3. Ministry of the Interior;

4. Ministry of Defence;

5. Customs Authority;

6. Intelligence Services.

An entitled person is obliged to refrain from trading in military material to the extent that such trading would result in damaging the foreign policy, security or trade interests or the international commitments of the Slovak Republic, or in damaging the interests of international organisations and institutions to which the Slovak Republic is a party, member or participant.

The violation of the Trade in Military Material Act may lead to a fine of up to SKK 10 million and/or imprisonment for up to eight years.

In 2006 Slovakia permitted the export of 7 908 SALW and 4 644 SALW were imported.

SLOVENIA

In Slovenia, there are several ministries involved in the implementation of national legislation and international activities in the field of small arms and light weapons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains the coordinating authority for the implementation and coordination of international activities in the field of small arms and light weapons. The Ministry of the Interior controls the exports and imports of small arms and light weapons, and the Ministry of Defence is responsible for control over the import and export of small arms and light weapons used for military purposes.

Annual Reports on arms exports and imports are published on the website of the Ministry of Defence. The Slovenian Police and the Customs Administration are responsible for the control of the state border and border crossings. They carry out direct control over cargo crossing the state border. In 2006, the Police dealt with 238 criminal offences of illicit production of and trade in arms or explosives (152 in 2005), and filed criminal complaints against 261 suspects (161 in 2005). In 2006, there were 22 cases of criminal offences perpetrated by organised criminal groups, while only 4 such cases were recorded in 2005. The Police detected 192 (127) criminal offences through its own activity. In 2006, the Police destroyed 637 confiscated firearms; 72 items out of the total quantity seized were donated to the National Museum of Contemporary History.

There are regular meetings and inter-ministerial coordination in the field of small arms and light weapons with each Ministry taking an active role according to its competences.

Slovenia adopted basic legislation in the field of small arms and light weapons in the 1990s. A comprehensive overview of the national legal framework concerning small arms and light weapons was submitted to the UN in 2005 in the national report on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action. Since then, and specifically in 2006, no new legislation was adopted. Nevertheless, the Ministry of the Interior formally submitted to the Ministry of Justice an initiative for the amendment of Article 310 of the Criminal Code — Illicit production of and trade in arms or explosives, to include exterritorial applicability of the Criminal Code in cases of alleged commission of criminal offence of this type. The rationale of such a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code is that such a criminal offence may be committed if the perpetrator unlawfully ‘brings’ weapons into the Republic of Slovenia and/or intervenes in the resale of weapons from abroad. The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code are expected to enter the governmental and parliamentary procedure in 2007.

SPAIN

The latest events related to new legislation and/or regulations are as follows:

a) On 12 January 2006, Order ITC/60/2006 was introduced to update and incorporate the agreed changes in the control lists into the related international munitions lists (i.e. the MTCR and the WA) in the Annex I to Royal Decree 1782/2004 of 30 July 2004, on the Regulation of Control of the Foreign Trade of Defence Materials, Other Material and Dual Use Goods and Technologies.

b) In October 2005, the Spanish Parliament urged the Government to issue, in one year's time, a Law on Arms Trade. It was to upgrade provisions in the aforementioned Royal Decree 1782/2004 of 30 July 2004. The new Law should comply with and make an explicit reference to the UN Programme of Action (UN PoA) to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and related UNGA Resolutions, as well as the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (adopted by the UNGA on 31 May 2001), better known as the ‘UN Firearms Protocol’. Following that request from the Parliament, the Spanish cabinet approved on 29 December 2006 a proposal for a new Law on Foreign Trade of Defence Materials and Dual Use Goods. This proposal is currently being examined and amended by the Parliament, and it is expected to enter into force by mid 2007. The most notable aspects of the proposal can be summarised as follows: — In the first place, Spanish legislation on this matter consists of a norm equivalent to a Law, which will establish an instrument to exercise controls with greater efficacy. — Secondly, the Law will up date the new regulations on Foreign Trade of Defence Materials and Dual Use Goods according to the commitments made by Spain in international fora and non-proliferation regimes. — Thirdly, the new Law will broaden the scope of the controls to all kinds of firearms, including arms for hunting and sport shooting, their parts and components and ammunition, in compliance with Resolution 55/225 adopted by the UN General Assembly against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. — Fourthly, the Law will explicitly adhere to the eight criteria of the European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, as well as the criteria adopted by the OSCE for the operations of small arms and light weapons. — Finally, the legislative texts include an explicit commitment to promote and participate in the regional and international processes geared to greater control of the trade in weapons, especially the adoption of an International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In this regard, we must recall that Spain was one of the 117 sponsors of the project approved on 26 October.

c) Spain fulfilled during 2006 the internal ratification process for the adoption of the ‘UN Firearms Protocol’, and on 9 February 2007 deposited at the UNSG the instrument of accession on. The Protocol enters into force for Spain on 11 March 2007.

Training of administration, law enforcement agencies, judicial organs

Spanish law enforcement agencies continued to organise, as in previous years, courses and workshops on the criminal handling of firearms and explosives and on the application of information technology to the control of weapons and explosives. These are regular seminars organised in order to disseminate the rules and legal provisions for preventing and combating illicit trafficking of weapons and with the goal of recycling and updating police officers of the relevant agenciess on the subject.

Other initiatives or activities

In the legal framework of the ‘Convention regarding the establishment of uniform regulations for the reciprocal recognition of official proof marks on fire-arms’ of July 1969, and in accordance with the provisions laid down by its Executive Authority, the Permanent International commission for the proof of small-arms (CIP.), the Spanish national Official Proof-House ‘Banco Oficial de Pruebas de Armas de Eibar (BOPE)’, has marked all portable weapons for civil use produced in Spain during the year 2006. Marking of arms is one of the recommended actions to be taken for future tracing and prosecution of the illicit trafficking of SALW; the marking includes the following information: name of the producer, trial number of the weapon, year of production and BOPE’s marking signs and logos. In 2006 Spain produced 280 pistols, 22 942 rifles (this figures includes single rifle canons) and 28 138 shotguns, which were all marked by BOPE. Moreover, in 2006 BOPE destroyed 1 276 portable weapons (mainly pistols and revolvers).

Co-ordinated by the Central Inspectorate for Arms and Explosives of the Guardia Civil (Spain’s central agency for the administrative control of firearms), the competent Spanish authorities seized 7 015 illegal firearms in 2006. At present, the Spanish authorities have a total of 291 196 firearms of different kinds stockpiled (bonded, seized and confiscated); 22 392 firearms will be auctioned and 40 772 others destroyed in 2006.

During 2006, the Spanish authorities carried out 23 727 inspections of facilities where firearms and/or explosives are produced or stored (including factories, commercial outfits, sports shooting facilities, private security companies, etc.); of that total, 8 071 inspections were carried out on facilities related to firearms and 15 656 inspections on facilities where explosives are produced or stored.

Additionally, Customs and Tax officials paid several visits to ports and airports as part of their programme to combat gun-running during arms export.

SWEDEN

The legislation on small arms and light weapons was amended on some points, inter alia, the information on contact details for arms brokers in the national arms brokers register will no longer be confidential.

According to a new ordinance that came into force on 1 July 2006, Swedish Customs are obliged to inform the Swedish Police about all weapons that cross the Swedish border into Sweden.

Legislation on a time-limited firearms amnesty was approved by Parliament at the end of 2006 and came into force on 1 March 2007. The amnesty was in force from 1 March to 31 May 2007. The purpose of the legislation is to decrease the number of illegal and unregistered weapons in Sweden.

EUROPEAN UNION

In 2006, the Safety Assessment for Foreign Air-carriers (SAFA) Directive was implemented and three legislative proposals addressing regulatory measures on the territory of the EU were put forward:

— Updating of the EC Weapons Directive (91/477);

— Proposal for an EC Directive on Firearms to implement the UN Firearms Protocol;

— Commission’s Communication on the security of explosives, detonators, bomb making equipment and firearms in the EU.

II. INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS IN 2006

AUSTRIA

OSCE

Austria supported the further implementation of OSCE documents on SALW as well as on stockpiles of conventional ammunition. Austria organised a first presentation of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition at the Security Dialogue of the Forum for Security Co-operation of the OSCE on 29 March 2006. The aim of this effort was first of all to familiarise the participating States with the regulatory framework and activities as well as with the EU's projects on SALW, and secondly to build the basis for enhanced co-ordination and co-operation between the OSCE and EU, in order to ensure that the strengths and differing capacities were used in the most cost-effective way and to avoid duplication of work.

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)

Austria gave financial support to a project for the destruction of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and MANPADS in Kazakhstan. The US-led project was launched in April 2006.

The project for the destruction of small arms and light weapons (SALW), MANPADS and ammunition in Ukraine, also financed by Austria was further implemented in 2006.

United Nations

At the 61st UN General Assembly, Austria co-sponsored the following resolutions relevant to SALW:

‘Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them’, ‘Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles’. Austria voted in favour of the resolution ‘Illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects’

BELGIUM

Belgium supports several projects in the world in the area of SALW, namely:

Africa

South Africa — EUR 216 700 — Safer Africa

Project designed to increase and strengthen police law-enforcement capabilities in South Africa by reducing light weapons in risk areas.

Burundi — DRC — Rwanda — EUR 400 000 — RECSA-GRIP

Project named ‘Building support and capacities for the development of National Action Plans on small arms and light weapons in Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC’.

Latin America

Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala — EUR 107 800 — Arias Foundation

Project designed to raise the awareness of the most vulnerable members of society (young people) in the six countries of the impact of firearms in their life through awareness-raising activities in secondary schools.

Brazil — EUR 70 467 — UNODC

Project designed to intensify the efforts by the Federal District (Brasilia) community to prevent violence caused by drugs and the proliferation of firearms.

Asia

Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka — EUR 100 000 — Safer World

Project designed to strengthen governmental capacities and the capacities of civil society for combating the proliferation of light weapons in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka (application of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms).

Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

Belarus — EUR 55 370 — OSCE

Strengthening capacities in the field of light weapons stockpile management and security.

Kosovo — EUR 94 543 — KOSSAC

UNDP project named ‘KOSSAC’: Kosovo Small Arms Control Initiative.

Ukraine — EUR 25 000

Rehabilitation and protection of the area surrounding the ammunition depot in Novobohdanivka.

BULGARIA

Bulgaria financed a project for the destruction of 1 897 small arms and light weapons which were illegally held by civilians and subsequently confiscated by the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro. Bulgaria donated USD 7 588 to the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro for the completion of the project. The destruction was completed on 28 February 2006.

In 2006 Bulgaria hosted an international seminar entitled ‘Export Control of Dual-Use Items and Arms’: Industry Outreach (Sofia, 22-23 May 2006). The 2006 Sofia seminar was part of the continuing implementation of the Joint Action Plan of Hungary and Bulgaria under the Australia Group outreach programme targeting non-participating States.

The Sofia seminar was an opportunity for an exchange of information, experience and training in the form of presentations and interactive discussions for participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the FY Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.

Following its policy to assist NATO partners as much as possible in dealing with the problems of security and defence, in 2006 Bulgaria participated in 9 of the 10 current NATO/PFP Trust Fund Projects. Five of these projects were dedicated to the collection and destruction of SALW:

1. Trust Fund Serbia and Montenegro II for destruction of 1 320 620 APLs in Serbia and Montenegro: EUR 30 000.

2. Trust Fund Ukraine II for destruction of munitions, SALW and MANPADS in Ukraine: EUR 25 000.

3. Trust Fund for destruction of SALW and MANPADS in Kazakhstan: EUR 10 226.

4. Trust Fund Albania II for destruction of munitions for SALW in Albania: EUR 25 000.

5. Trust Fund for clearance of 569 hectares of contaminated land and disposal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Azerbaijan: EUR 15 000.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has submitted the information that the tasks of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, participating in peacekeeping operations in 2006, have not included the collection and destruction of SALW.

CYPRUS

Cyprus actively participates in the work undertaken in this field by the UN and the OSCE.

Specifically, Cyprus provides reports to the UN for the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. Furthermore, it has provided information to the UNHCHR (based on decision 124/2004) concerning ‘the prevention of human rights violations caused by the availability and misuse of SALW’.

Cyprus also provides information to the OSCE, concerning national practices and procedures for the export of Conventional Arms and Related Technology (FSC.DEL/269/06, 27.6.2006), on Conventional Arms Transfers (FSC.DEL/432/06, 26.9.2006) and on SALW (FSC.DEL/14/07, 24.1.2007).

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic actively participates in the implementation of the UN Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of SALW. In 2006, the Czech Republic contributed CZK 1 000 000 (USD 47 308,17 = EUR 34 910) to the activities of the Trust Fund for the Consolidation of Peace through Practical Disarmament Measures. This sum will be used to support the second phase of the CASA database, which is being implemented from November 2006 to November 2007. One of the main goals of the CASA database is to monitor the implementation of the UN Programme of Action by individual UN Member States.

Interagency coordination in 2006 concentrated namely on the preparation of the 2006 Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of SALW and on the implementation of the multilateral instrument on marking and tracing. Due consideration was also given to the debate in other relevant multilateral fora (UNGA First Committee, OSCE, Wassenaar Arrangement).

The Czech Republic cooperated inter alia with national offices of the Interpol in Lima and Wiesbaden concerning 147 cases involving 1 791 arms.

DENMARK

The Danish law enforcement authorities participate in various international and regional initiatives dealing with arms control and arms trafficking issues.

Since November 2006 the Danish police has participated in Operation Crossfire II concerning arms smuggling within the framework of the Baltic Sea Task Force.

Denmark is supporting the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Liberia through a UNDP Trust Fund with a total of EUR 2,7 million (2004-2006).

Denmark is supporting the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Afghanistan through a UNDP Trust Fund with a total of EUR 1,1 million (2005-2006).

ESTONIA

In 2006, Estonian soldiers in Iraq confiscated arms and ammunition during patrol operations in Iraq several times. Operations were conducted in cooperation with the US and Iraqi land force unit.

FINLAND

— Finland has supported the ECOWAS Small Arms Programme (ECOSAP) with EUR 250 000 in 2006. A similar amount will be disbursed in 2007 and 2008, bringing total Finnish support to EUR 750 000;

— Contribution to the OSCE mission in the Republic of Moldova, covering destruction of surplus and outdated stocks of ammunition (total EUR 160 000);

— Contribution to the OSCE SALW and Conventional Ammunition Programme in the Republic of Tajikistan, Phase II covering restoration of ammunition magazines in six localities (total EUR 100 000);

— Financial support to the UNDP-administered SALW -project in Albania. The project started as a weapons-for-development swap to recover the illegally owned ammunition and small weapons stolen from army depots during the crisis in the late 1990s. The collection was made possible by amnesty laws passed by the government. The scope of the project was later widened to community policing development, aiming at building trust between the law enforcement and public service and common citizens. Finland funded the project until 2006 when it ended.

Other initiatives

Finland contributed to the decommissioning process under the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) mandate by seconding 11 experts. Their expenses were about EUR 545 000. The decommissioning of the Free Aceh Movement's (GAM) armaments began on 15 September 2005 and was executed in four stages and concluded by 31 December 2005. According to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and GAM, GAM agreed to undertake decommission of all arms, ammunition and explosives held by the participants of GAM with the assistance of the Aceh Monitoring Mission. GAM handed over to the AMM 840 arms which successfully underwent the decommissioning process. The decommissioned arms were all destroyed.

FRANCE

United Nations: in 2006 France contributed to the special fund of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa in Lomé (UNREC) (EUR 77 000).

ECOWAS: France participated in the support programme for the control of light weapons in the ECOWAS Member States (USD 260 000).

Tajikistan: between September 2005 and April 2006, a mission of 4 French experts went to Tajikistan (training, supervision of stock creation, control of operations to destroy unstable ammunition) as part of operations carried out under the aegis of the OSCE.

Ukraine: In May 2006, participation in the mission evaluating and advising on the decontamination (destruction of surplus ammunition stocks) of the Novobogdanivka site (Ukraine). From September to October 2006, training mission for bomb disposal experts for the destruction of surplus ammunition stocks in Ukraine (3 experts).

Lebanon: a security audit of the ammunition stocks of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was carried out in March 2006. Further to the audit, the LAF was given training by army bomb disposal experts.

GERMANY

Germany contributes to projects and activities in the field of SALW including their ammunition in the framework of and in cooperation with a variety of institutions and organisations. Most of these activities are undertaken within a wider time frame than the calendar year. Key initiatives in 2006 are listed below:

Afghanistan (2004-)

Since 2004, Germany has been supporting the DD&R and DIAG processes in Afghanistan by co-financing the disposal and destruction of surplus weapons and ammunition. Overall budget: EUR 3 000 000.

Albania (2006)

In 2006 Germany supported the NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund for the destruction of SALW, MANPADS and ammunition in Albania. Contribution: EUR 107 000.

Angola (2003-2006)

Germany supports the social and economic reintegration of ex-combatants and their families in Angola. For the purpose of sustainable reintegration, a community-based approach is taken. Resettlement is combined with rural development and agricultural programmes. The programme also involves reconstruction of roads and thereby creates employment for the receiving communities and the ex-combatants. Capacities of local governments and administration are strengthened to develop and implement programmes for reintegration. Overall budget: EUR 11 990 332.

Burundi (2003-2007)

Germany supports the national demobilisation and reintegration programme of Burundi. The project has four main components: empowerment of communal reintegration structures, revitalisation of agricultural production, income generation and rehabilitation of infrastructure. Overall budget: EUR 15 940 000.

Cambodia (2006-)

Germany conducted an evaluation visit in December 2006 to look into the problems of ammunition stockpiles and develop a project proposal for implementation in 2007-2008 with regard to improving the management and security of stockpiles as well as the destruction of surplus ammunition.

Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC (2004-2007)

Germany supports the National Programme for Demobilisation and Reintegration (NDRP). Following support for the national ‘Comité Technique de Planification et de Coordination’ (CTPC), Germany has committed funds for a three year cooperation with the ‘Commission Nationale de Démobilisation et Réinsertion’ (CONADER). Overall budget: EUR 2 500 000.

Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC (2005-2011)

Germany supports the social and economic reintegration of children and youth formerly associated with fighting forces in the Province Maniema in DRC. Overall budget: EUR 12 000 000.

EAC (2004-)

Germany supports the development of a political, legal and institutional framework within the East African Community (EAC) to control the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW. Components of the project with the Secretariat of the EAC include organisational development to set up a Regional Focal Point on Small Arms Control, harmonisation of policies and legislation, training, development of systematic approaches to assess the problem of SALW, and education and awareness-raising in cooperation with civil society organisations in EAC Member States.

Greater Great Lakes Region (2003-2006)

Germany contributed to the Trust Fund of the World Bank led Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (MDRP) for the Greater Great Lakes Region. Overall budget: EUR 9 900 000.

League of Arab States (2004-)

Germany continued its cooperation with the League of Arab States (AL) by providing assistance to SALW-related work at various levels. Support was given for a meeting of SALW focal points from the countries of the League. The translation of OSCE documents on SALW issues into the Arabic language continued. A study visit to Berlin, Vienna (OSCE) and Geilenkirchen (German Armed Forces Verification Centre) was organised for AL Secretariat staff in October 2006. To give an example of concrete cooperation with an AL Member State, in September 2006 Germany organised a two-day training course on stockpile management and security in Tunisia.

Liberia (2005-2007)

Germany supports the national Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (DDRR). The programme provides psychosocial assistance to victims of war-related sexual abuse in Liberia and supports the reintegration of homecoming refugees and ex-combatants through labour-intensive rehabilitation of infrastructure. Overall budget EUR 10 750 000

SADC (2004-)

Germany supports the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Material. As part of this cooperation Germany has deployed an advisor on peace and security issues to support the establishment of a Regional Focal Point at the SADC Secretariat. The project includes the following components: harmonisation of policies and legislation, capacity building, training of law enforcement agencies and cooperation with civil society actors.

Rwanda (2003-2007)

Germany supports the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRP) and the process of social reintegration of ex-combatants in Rwanda. Overall budget: EUR 8 773 000.

Senegal (2005-2006)

Germany supported programmes for small arms awareness in the Casamance region. The programme was based on a network of various local NGOs that have developed a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem of the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW. Activities started in 2005 with a coordination workshop and with capacity building. The main focus was awareness raising among the population and government officials in the cross-border region.

Sierra Leone (2004-2006)

Germany supports education and vocational training for children and youth affected by armed conflict including children formerly associated with the fighting forces in Sierra Leone. Overall budget: EUR 12 000 000.

South Eastern Europe/RACVIAC (2005-)

Germany continued to support SALW-related seminar work in the regional centre for arms control. Concrete initiatives included brokering and stockpile management.

Uganda (2005-2007)

Germany supports the National Focal Point on Small Arms to implement the Ugandan Action Plan on Small Arms Control in the areas of capacity building and awareness raising. In accordance with the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and other regional agreements, the Ugandan government has created a bureau for the coordination of small arms control.

HUNGARY

Global measures

The Republic of Hungary has been involved in international negotiations aimed at preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in SALW at both regional and international level. Hungarian licensing policy strictly observes all UN Security Council embargoes and other embargoes declared by the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union and supports moratoria such as that of ECOWAS.

Partnering with other countries Hungary has provided technical and financial assistance to support the regional implementation of the measures contained in the UN Programme of Action. It has taken an active part in other activities carried out in the framework of other organisations too, such as NATO’s Partnership for Peace, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe etc.

Within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Hungary has undertaken a number of politically binding commitments in relation to SALW. The OSCE Document on SALW provides a general framework to deal with problems related to SALW, by setting out measures, norms and principles in the following fields:

— Manufacturing, marking and record-keeping,

— Common export criteria and export controls,

— Management of stockpiles, reduction of surpluses and destruction,

— Early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Additional commitments dealing with specific aspects of the SALW issue have been set out in the following OSCE documents:

— OSCE Principles for Export Controls of Man-portable Air Defence Systems,

— OSCE Principles on the Control of Brokering in SALW,

— Standard Elements of End-User Certificates and Verification Procedures for SALW Exports.

The OSCE Principles governing conventional Arms Transfers are also relevant for the export control of arms, including SALW.

Hungary, together with Finland, the Russian Federation, Turkey and the United States has co-sponsored a draft decision on harmonising the elements of end-user certificates within the OSCE framework. A decision on the issue was adopted on 17 November 2004.

In 2004 Hungary coordinated efforts within the OSCE to respond to assistance requests from participating States relating to SALW problems.

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE document on SALW, Hungary has exchanged information with OSCE participating States on national marking systems before 30 June 2001. This information is updated, as and when necessary, to reflect changes in national marking systems.

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE document on SALW, Hungary has exchanged information with OSCE participating States on an annual basis since 2002 on the category, subcategory and quantity of small arms identified and/or seized and destroyed on their territory during the previous calendar year, as well as small on exports to, and imports from, other participating States.

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE Document on SALW, Hungary exchanged information with OSCE participating States before 30 June 2001 on:

— National procedures for the control of manufacture of small arms,

— Relevant national legislation and current practice on export policy, procedures, documentation and on control over national brokering,

— General information on national stockpile management and security procedures,

— Techniques and procedures for the destruction of SALW.

This information is updated as and when necessary, to reflect changes in national legislation and procedures.

Regional measures

Hungary is committed to a plan of action designed specifically to meet the needs of South Eastern Europe known as the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. The Regional Implementation Plan is an initiative of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Since November 2000 three annual consultation meetings have brought key stakeholders together to review regional efforts to stem SALW proliferation, learn lessons and develop practical projects within the framework of the Szeged Small Arms Process (SSAP). The Szeged Small Arms Process is an informal forum, which allows governments, civil society and international organisations to develop policies and practical projects that combat the proliferation and misuse of SALW across South Eastern Europe. The SSAP was jointly initiated by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Saferworld, a London-based independent foreign policy think tank at a conference in Szeged, Hungary in November 2000. Since the adoption of the Stability Pact Regional Implementation Plan in November 2001 it has been a complementary framework for co-operation between governments and civil society.

International and Regional Cooperation

The Hungarian MFA organised together with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation, an export control seminar for South Eastern European countries in Szeged, Hungary in June 2003. The conference presented basic building blocks of an effective export control system and provided an opportunity to discuss regional approaches and concerns, the latter being mainly how to tackle SALW-related problems in the region.

In co-operation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation, the Hungarian MFA organised the Fifth International Conference on Export Controls in Budapest, Hungary, on 15 to 17 September2003. (The conference was the fifth in a series of events known as the ‘Oxford Process’.) More than 180 export control officials from over 40 countries and representatives of the multilateral export control regimes, industry and the NGO community participated. One of the main topics of the conference was the discussion on new approaches to controlling conventional arms, especially certain types of SALW such as MANPADS.

The most important recent event is also a result of international co-operation. Hungary finished the reduction/destruction of 1 540 pieces of Strela-2 type MANPADS in February 2006. The project was partly an American initiative and co-financed by the USA.

For the purpose of identifying groups and individuals engaged in illicit trade in SALW, the Hungarian Police co-operates with INTERPOL, and EUROPOL and is a member of the SECI Regional Centre for Combating Trans-border Crime to design a system for South Eastern European countries to exchange information on illicit SALW trafficking.

IRELAND

— EUR 500 000 for The World Bank’s Trust Fund for the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for projects in the Great Lakes region of Africa to deal with ex-combatants.

— EUR 200 000 for the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund towards the destruction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Ukraine and Albania.

— EUR 89 000 funding for Safer Africa for a project to reduce the proliferation of SALW in Africa.

— EUR 10 000 for IANSA towards attendance at the UN Conference on the Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which took place in New York in June-July 2006.

— EUR 10 000 for IANSA towards the improvement of the IANSA website, which is a valuable resource for those working on issues related to small arms and light weapons.

ITALY

In 2006, Italy actively participated in several regional and global meetings aimed at exchanging information on national procedures and identifying common solutions to problems related to the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

In particular, Italy attended the following events:

— Workshop on SALW reduction and control in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organised by UNDP (Sarajevo, 21 March 2006);

— Workshop on brokering activities, organised by RACVIAC, OSCE, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway (Zagreb, 29-30 March 2006);

— OSCE Special meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons in preparation for the UN Review Conference on the PoA (Vienna, 17 May 2006);

— Workshop on MANPADS, organised by Israel (Jerusalem, 5-6 April 2006);

— Workshop on SALW export controls organised by NGOs Oxfam, Saferworld and Amnesty International (Brussels, 20 April 2006).

Other initiatives

In 2006, Italian armed forces participating in multilateral peace-keeping operations collected and/or seized and destroyed the following small arms and light weapons:

In Iraq:

— 12 AK 47 assault rifles;

— 4 grenade launchers RPG;

— 4 rocket launchers;

— 1 light machine-guns;

— 1 mortar;

— 14 miscellaneous.

Sub total: 36 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

In Kosovo:

— 14 AK47 assault rifles;

— 28 rifles;

— 2 carbines;

— 1 rifle M59;

— 6 hunting rifles;

— 1 grenade launcher RPG;

— 7 rocket launchers;

— 4 light machine guns;

— 1 RPG 2;

— 2 mortars;

— 1 musket;

— 18 pistols;

— 575 miscellaneous

Sub total: 658 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

In Bosnia:

— 82 rifles;

— 9 rocket launchers;

— 115 miscellaneous.

Sub total: 207 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

Total: 901 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

LATVIA

In September 2006 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia in cooperation with the US National Nuclear Safety Administration organised a seminar for Latvian enterprises and export controls officials: ‘Development of Export Controls from EU and Global Perspective’. Participants were updated on the existing legislation and procedures with regard to arms control in the Republic of Latvia.

LITHUANIA

a) International reporting obligations

Lithuania submitted the following national reports and questionnaires in 2006:

— Voluntary Report under the UN Programme of Action against illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons;

— Information to the UN Register for Conventional Arms;

— Annual report under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;

— Annual information on SALW imports, exports and SALW identified as surplus and