1999/730/CFSP: Council Decision of 15 November 1999 implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in Cambodia
Date: 1999-11-15
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Cambodia, European arms policy, arms limitation, fight against crime, firearms and munitions, international security

16. 11. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 294/5

COUNCIL DECISION

of 15 November 1999

implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to
combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in Cambodia

(1999/730/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

2.

For this purpose, the European Union shall:

Having regard to Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP of 17 December
1998 on the European Union's contribution to combating the
destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons (1), and in particular Article 6, in conjunction with
Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread
of small arms and light weapons poses a threat to peace
and security and reduces the prospects for sustainable
development; whereas
is acutely the case in
this
Cambodia;

In pursuing the objectives set out in Article 1 of Joint
Action 1999/34/CFSP, the European Union envisages
operating within the relevant international forums to
promote confidence-building measures and incentives to
encourage the voluntary surrender of surplus or illegally-
held small arms, the demobilisation of combatants and
their
reintegration;
rehabilitation
whereas this Decision is intended to implement Joint
Action 1999/34/CFSP;

subsequent

and

The European Union considers that a financial contribu-
tion and technical assistance would pursue the aims of
influencing public opinion in favour of civilian disarma-
ment, consolidating and developing civil society involve-
ment in the process of weapons collection and disposal
of arms collected and/or
through
demobilisation;

rendered surplus

(4)

The European Union intends therefore to offer financial
support and technical assistance in accordance with Title
II of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP,

(a) assist the government of Cambodia in the development of
appropriate laws and regulations on the ownership, posses-
sion, use, sale and transfer of arms and ammunition,

(b) assist the government of Cambodia and the police and
security forces to develop guidelines for improved record-
keeping and security for weapons held by them,

(c) assist the government of Cambodia and the police and
security forces in developing procedures for voluntary
surrender of small arms and for identifying and destroying
surplus small arms, particularly in connection with planned
demobilisation and restructuring of armed forces,

(d) support civil society programmes to raise public awareness
on problems related to small arms and light weapons and
society cooperation with the
further
weapons collection and destruction process, in particular
by supporting activities by NGOs.

to develop civil

Article 2

1.
In order to carry out the objectives specified in Article 1,
the Presidency will appoint a Project Manager based in Phnom
Penh.

2.
The Project Manager will perform his tasks under the
responsibility of the Presidency in accordance with the terms of
reference set out in the Annex.

3.
The Project Manager shall report regularly to the Council
or its designated bodies through the Presidency assisted by the
Secretary General/High Representative for the CFSP.

4.
In carrying out his activities, the Project Manager will
cooperate, as appropriate, with local missions of Member
States and the Commission.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 3

Article 1

The financial reference amount for the purposes referred

1.
to in Article 1 shall be EUR 500 000.

1.
The European Union shall contribute to promoting the
control, collection and destruction of weapons in Cambodia.

(1) OJ L 9, 15.1.1999, p. 1.

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

implementing

proposing

by

L 294/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 11. 1999

Article 4

Article 6

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

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.

It shall expire on 15 November 2000.

Done at Brussels, 15 November 1999.

Article 5

This Decision shall be reviewed six months after the date of its
adoption.

For the Council

The President

T. HALONEN

ANNEX

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER

1. For the purposes of Article 1(2)(a), the Project Manager with the support of relevant experts will work closely with
relevant government officials from the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior and other appropriate
Ministries, in the development of appropriate laws and regulations. For these purposes, the Project Manager may
organize training and fact-finding visits for relevant government officials.

2. For the purposes of Article 1(2)(b), workshops or consultations involving relevant Cambodian authorities will be
organised locally under the supervision of the Project Manager to raise awareness of requirements and international
‘best practices’ related to record-keeping and management and security of weapons stocks and to developing policies,
guidelines and practices in this area.

3. For the purposes of Article 1(2)(c), the Project Manager will, with the support of relevant experts, assist the
Government of Cambodia, the police and security forces and the National Council for Demobilisation in developing
policies and procedures for identifying surplus arms and for the collection and destruction of them, in particular, in the
context of the initial demobilisation and re-integration programmes planned in two provinces in the year 2000, and
monitor progress on these issues during the demobilisation process.

4. For the purposes of Article 1(2)(d), financial aid will be allocated by the Project Manager to support activities by
non-governmental organisations in Cambodia, including the coalition ‘Working Group for Weapons Reduction in
Cambodia’, such as awareness raising, information sharing and education and training programmes. These activities
may take place in selected regions in Cambodia, as agreed between the Project Manager and the relevant organisations.

5. The Project Manager shall ensure that appropriate procedures are established for effective monitoring and evaluation of
activities. To this end he shall seek full cooperation from the government of Cambodia and the police and security
forces.