1999/320/CFSP: Council Decision of 10 May 1999 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article 14 of the Treaty on European Union, on a European Union contribution to the collection and destruction of weapons in Albania
Date: 1999-05-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Albania, European arms policy, Member States' contribution, disarmament

L 123/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

13. 5. 1999

COUNCIL DECISION

of 10 May 1999

adopted by the Council on the basis of Article 14 of the Treaty on European
Union, on a European Union contribution to the collection and destruction of
weapons in Albania

(1999/320/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Articles 14 and 28 thereof,

Having regard to Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP of 17
December 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of
Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on the
European Union’s contribution to combating the destabi-
lising accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons (1),

(5) Whereas the European Union considers that a
financial contribution to the said project would
pursue the aims of influencing public opinion in
favour of civilian disarmament, improving the secu-
tiry situation in Albania as well as promoting the
concept of ‘weapons in exchange for development'
as a model for replication in other areas;

(6) Whereas the European Union intends therefore to
offer financial support in accordance with Title II
of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP,

(1) Whereas in Common Position 97/357/CFSP (2) the
European Union expressed its intention to help
Albania to promote the democratic process, the
return to political stability and internal security;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

(2) Whereas the excessive and uncontrolled accumula-
tion and spread of small arms and light weapons
poses a threat to peace and security and reduces the
prospects for sustainable development; whereas this
is acutely the case in Albania;

(3) Whereas,

in pursuing the objectives set out

in
Article 1 of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP, the Euro-
pean Union envisages operating within the relevant
international fora to give assistance to countries
requesting support for controlling or eliminating a
surplus of small arms in their territory, in particular
where this may help to prevent armed conflict or
in post-conflict
in accordance with
Article 4 thereof; whereas this Decision is intended
to implement Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP;

situations

(4) Whereas

the United Nations Department

for
(DDA) and Development
Disarmament Affairs
Programme (UNDP) pilot project
in
exchange for development in the Gramsh district
of Albania' is intended to convince the population
to turn in their private weapons voluntarily while
offering as an incentive the reconstruction of roads,
installation of
telephone lines and supply of
vehicles;

‘weapons

(1) OJ L 9, 15.1.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 153, 11.6.1997, p. 4.

The European Union contribute to promoting the
1.
collection and destruction of weapons in the Gramsh
district in Albania.

2.
For this purpose, the European Union shall give
financial support to the DDA and UNDP pilot project
‘weapons in exchange for development in the Gramsh
district of Albania'.

The European Union contribution shall be condi-
3.
tional on the participation by European Union represen-
tatives
the
programme. Within this forum,
the European Union
strongly for the destruction of all collected weapons.

in the National Steering Committee of

Article 2

The European Union contribution referred to in
1.
Article 1 shall be allocated to the disarmament compo-
nent of
the DDA and UNDP pilot project. It shall
finance the destruction of collected weapons, as well as
the setting up of an adequate mobile arms control team.
For this purpose, an amount of up to EUR 500 000 shall
be charged to the general budget of
the European
Communities for 1999.

The management of the expenditure financed by
2.
the amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to
the procedures and rules of the Community applying to
budget matters.

13. 5. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 123/13

Article 3

(cid:190) keep the Council informed.

The amount specified in Article 2(1) shall be allo-

1.
cated as follows:

(a) one third as soon as the approximately 5 000 weapons
which have already been collected are effectively
destroyed,

(b) a second third once a further 10 000 weapons have

been collected and effectively destroyed,

(c) the remaining third, once a further 5 000 weapons

have been collected and effectively destroyed.

2.
The Council notes that the Commission will direct
its action towards achieving the objectives and priorities
of this Decision by appropriate Community measures.

Article 4

1.

The Presidency shall:

(cid:190) ensure liaison with the relevant UN bodies,
(cid:190) establish with the Government of Albania the contacts
needed to implement this Decision, notably through
participation in the National Steering Committee,

2.
The Council shall, within six months of the adop-
tion of this Decision, examine its implementation with a
view to considering further possible initiatives in Albania.

Article 5

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

Article 6

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 10 May 1999.

For the Council

The President

H. EICHEL