Communication FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL - ACTION AGAINST ANTI PERSONNEL LANDMINES: REINFORCING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Date: 2000-03-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, conventional weapon, coordination of aid, humanitarian aid, military cooperation












EUR-Lex - 52000DC0111 - EN






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52000DC0111

Communication FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL - ACTION AGAINST ANTI PERSONNEL LANDMINES: REINFORCING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION  /* COM/2000/0111 final */  









COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL ACTION AGAINST ANTI PERSONNEL LANDMINES: REINFORCING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONEXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM1. Anti-Personnel Landmines create appalling casualties in many of the poorest parts of the world and are an obstacle to the implementation of a range of European Union programmes. In the period 1992-98, the European Union therefore committed over 180 m EUR to mine action world-wide to support demining programmes, assistance to mine victims, and research and development of technology. This has been a major contribution to the global efforts of the international community but much remains to be done.2. With the incentive of entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction, the challenge for the international community is to overcome the landmine problem in the next 10-15 years. Based on its contribution to date, the European Union is expected to be a major player in this activity. Success will only be achieved if the international political and resource commitment is sustained, if international co-ordination is improved, if effective national capabilities are established in all of the most seriously mine-afflicted countries, and safer and faster demining techniques are introduced.3. This Communication summarises the mine actions of the European Union to date and outlines policies that will further enhance the capacity of the European Union to play its leading role in overcoming this world-wide tragedy. These include an enhanced horizontal, distinct budget line that will provide the focus for European Union mine action efforts over the coming years. In parallel, the Commission is making a legislative proposal and will introduce internal changes that will strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of its actions in this important area of policy.COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCILACTION AGAINST ANTI PERSONNEL LANDMINES: REINFORCING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION1. On 1 March 1999, the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti Personnel Landmines, and on their Destruction" (henceforth referred to as "the Ottawa Convention") entered into force [1]. This event marked the culmination of several years of intense political activity to galvanise the international community into concerted action to overcome the tragedy of anti-personnel landmines (APL). The ban will take time to have an effect and many key states have yet to subscribe to it.[1]  As at 01.09.99 the Convention had been signed by 135 and ratified by 84 states world-wide. Thereof, 14 EU Member States have signed and 13 ratified.2. Meanwhile, the awful consequences of APL contamination must still be overcome, and implementation of the Convention will itself pose challenges. Over the past six years there has been a growing international awareness of the tragic impact of APL on the populations in many regions of the world struggling to recover from the effects of armed conflict. In addition to the continuous toll of victims, economic and social recovery has been impeded by the actual or suspected presence of APL. Mine Action [2] has therefore become an urgent priority in post-conflict situations in order to prevent casualties and facilitate the return to normality.[2]  "Mine Action" is a generic term referring to all activities, including mine awareness education, advocacy, information management, victim assistance and rehabilitation, survey and marking of suspected areas, detection and identification of landmines, training of specialist personnel, as well as demining (i.e. mine clearance to humanitarian standards) and landmine destruction, which contribute to the reduction of the human, economic, and environmental impact of anti-personnel landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other hazardous debris of war.3. The European Union is now recognised as one of the leading contributors to mine action within the international community. In the period 1992-98, the Community committed over 180 m EUR to these tasks world-wide (see Annexe I). In addition, during the same period, European Union Member States carried out bilateral actions on a similar scale. The European Union is supporting actions in all the most-afflicted countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, northern Iraq, Kosovo, Laos, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Somalia and Zimbabwe. In many of these countries it is the major contributor to mine action.4. The European Union recognises the central role played by the UN both in the organisation of mine action in many countries and in assisting the co-ordination of international efforts. In addition, the United States, Canada, Norway, and Japan among others, have been major contributors to mine clearance work and related actions including assistance to mine victims.5. In December 1997, at the Ottawa Conference, Governments and institutions world-wide announced an enormous financial commitment to mine action amounting to the equivalent of at least EUR350 million in the coming few years. Since then, a greater willingness has developed within the international community to work together in more co-ordinated fashion to reach agreed objectives, minimise duplication of effort, and focus on priority requirements.THE CHALLENGE6. Obligations under the Ottawa Convention: The entry into force of the Convention is a major incentive to improved mine action as well as to a more structured approach with specific milestones to be reached. Parties to the Convention are required to fulfil demanding internal obligations which will consume the resources allocated for mine action. These obligations include:- Destruction of all stock-piled mines within 4 years (Article 4)- Destruction of APL in mined areas within 10 years (Article 5.1)- Identification, marking, and fencing of mined areas as soon as possible. (Article 5.2)- Reporting to the UN Secretary General within 6 months on the APL situation in-country (Article 7), provision of information for the UN database (Article 6.6), and co-operation in measures to verify compliance (Article 8)- Taking the necessary legal, administrative, and other measures to prevent activities prohibited under the Convention (Article 9).7. Ultimately, the government in an afflicted country must bear the responsibility for mine clearance and this factor should influence the organisation of the international community's interventions from the start. However, in a post-conflict situation, it is unlikely that effective governmental structures will exist to organise and direct rehabilitation and reconstruction, and the resources available for mine clearance will be limited. The creation of national policy institutions and the establishment of local operational demining capacity, free from partisan influence and other vested interests, will therefore be essential prerequisites for mine action programmes in each of the afflicted countries.8. Many of those afflicted countries which are Party to the Convention will require assistance in fulfilling their obligations, and this will be a priority for international action over the coming years in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention [3]. There would be great benefit in terms of cost-effectiveness and impact on the problem in a more consistent and co-ordinated approach by the international community in each of the afflicted countries. At the First Meeting of States-Party to the Ottawa Convention, held in Maputo on 3 May 1999, priority was attached to strengthened international co-operation, in particular as regards the development of a global picture of priorities consistent with the obligations and time-frames contained within the Convention. In this context, account needs to be taken of important work done at the international, regional and sub-regional levels, while recognising the United Nations system as the leading actor in the global mine action effort. Information about future plans and the lessons of past and ongoing experiences must be shared more effectively to increase the impact of policies and strategies, and reduce duplication of efforts and waste of resources. The capacity of organisations to undertake their responsibilities must also be considered and addressed.[3] . In this regard, regional organisations, including the European Community, are specifically included among those that may be requested to provide financial, technical, and other assistance by a State-Party.9. While it makes little sense from a practical or ethical point of view, to expend resources on mine clearance in countries whose governments continue the use of APL, it is also recognised that warring factions in "failed states" or in civil conflicts bear responsibility for much of the continuing infestation by landmines, whatever the source of these weapons. However, if the Convention is to have credibility, the international community will need to give serious consideration to its response to those that continue to use APL in an indiscriminate and irresponsible manner, and to countries which continue to use APL in contravention of their treaty obligations [4]. At the same time, vulnerable communities should not be left to suffer for the errors of their governments.[4] . There is uncertainty about who is currently producing APL and whether or not these producers are still transferring APL to areas of conflict. The producer states that have not signed the Ottawa Treaty are: Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, USA, Vietnam, Yugoslavia. A significant proportion of the mines found in the most-afflicted countries are of Soviet and Chinese origin. Of the known exporters of APL, only Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Vietnam have not declared export bans or moratoria.10. In spite of the commitment by the European Union [5] and other major actors in the international community, the overall landmine problem remains critical and casualties continue at an unacceptable level [6]. There is also concern that, after the publicity surrounding the landmine issue in recent years, enthusiasm of donor governments and institutions will diminish. If the problem is to be overcome "in years not decades" [7], more effective and efficient mine action measures must be introduced in order to match the time laps in which signatory countries have to clear all mines buried in the ground. In that respect, the necessary level of resource commitment will at least have to be maintained over the coming years.[5]  For their part, the Member States of the European Union have banned the export of all APL to all destinations and introduced measures to ban their production. In any case, very little of the humanitarian problem of APL infestation in the afflicted countries relates to the EU which is very much part of the solution rather than part of the problem.[6]  The expert community agrees that the total number of land mines is not important, but the extent of the potentially afflicted area which is very large. More than 60 countries claim a problem of landmines where about 20 have severe infestation. Already the mere suspicion of mines creates economic disruption, and all sorts of unexploded ordnance (UXOs - such as shells, rockets, and grenades), in addition to APL and anti-tank landmines, are likely to be present in areas of previous conflict.[7]  The international Mine Action Co-ordination Workshop in Ottawa, March 1998, reached this conclusion, reflected in the EU target of 10-15 years and the US objective of the year 2010 by which the APL problem was to be overcome11. The suspected presence of APL constitutes a serious constraint on the socio-economic development of many countries where demining is essential to create the conditions to implement rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development programmes. In addition to combating the physical consequences relating to the actual presence of mines, APL projects therefore have multiplier effects on the social and economic fabric of the affected communities, by allowing the resumption of social and economic activity and enabling refugees to return home.12. Technology and the Cost-effectiveness of Mine Clearance Methods: Given the perceived scale of the landmine threat, it is widely accepted that the well-tried, labour-intensive techniques of manual mine clearance are too slow and hazardous. More attention needs to be devoted to the development and application of appropriate technology, in particular for minefield survey, for improved mine detection, and mine clearance/destruction, taking account of environmental conditions such as terrain, ground structure and vegetation. Further, national R&D mine clearance efforts in the Union tend to focus on military requirements, which differ in many respects from civilian needs. However, co-ordination needs to be improved to avoid duplication of efforts. Performances of the available equipment on the market are to be evaluated on the basis of appropriate standard procedures yet to be defined. As regards certification, any testing should be performed in accredited sites following standard procedures to be established. The Commission will continue to promote the establishment of international standards and their implementation, in close co-operation with CEN, ISO, and the UN.13. Information Management: Efficient mine action programmes require accurate, comprehensive, and usable data on the extent and density of minefields, on the location and types of mines, and on relevant economic, topographical, and medical information, as well as the effectiveness of mine clearance efforts. There is a vast amount of information potentially available from field operations world-wide but much of this remains unprocessed. UN, in co-operation with KFOR and GICHD, is currently establishing standardised reporting and geographical information systems, at in-field and headquarter levels, in parallel to similar Commission efforts. There is scope for strengthening international co-operation and co-ordination in this field.THE EUROPEAN UNION RESPONSEActions to Date14. The European Union has made a comprehensive response to the APL challenges through the Community, CFSP and the Parliament and policies in the field of development co-operation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and research. The Council of Ministers has been actively engaged on the APL issue since 1995 through joint actions and resolutions; diplomatic demarches and dialogue with third countries; activity in international fora such as the United Nations; active participation in the Ottawa process; and through practical action. In particular, the Joint Action on APL of 1 October 1996 committed the European Union "to the goal of the total elimination of anti-personnel landmines" and to active work "towards the achievement at the earliest possible date of an effective international agreement to ban these weapons world-wide". The Joint Action of 28 November 1997 broadened the earlier moratoria to cover all transfers of APL as well as the requirement to take the legal measures to ban the production of APL within the Union. The EU welcomed the adoption of the Convention in Oslo on 18 September 1997 and sought to promote, in all appropriate international fora, including the Conference on Disarmament, all efforts likely to contribute to the goal of total elimination of APL and to solving the problems caused by these weapons. It was on this basis that all fifteen member states of the Union attended the Ottawa Conference from 2-4 December 1997, and 14 of them signed the Convention.15. The European Union, based on various Joint Actions, supported mine action financially through various institutions, in particular the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance (UNVTF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). As regards CFSP funds, the Council has taken decisions since 1995 to contribute a total of some 21.6 MECU reserved for CFSP action to a range of mine actions carried out by leading international organisations. The European Union is therefore the largest single contributor to both the United Nations and the ICRC for funds related to mine actions.16. These European Union contributions, which demonstrate political support for the work of the recipient organisations, do not include the considerable bilateral contributions by individual Member States, and complement first pillar Community mine actions sponsored directly by the European Commission in the afflicted countries (see below.17. Parliamentary Action: Since 1995, the European Parliament has been strongly committed to the APL issue and has acted as a consistent advocate of the total ban through successive resolutions and questions. At its initiative a specific APL budget line was introduced in the 1996 EC budget. The resolution on APL of 29 June 1995 called for the Council and the Commission to do more to prevent the dissemination of mines and to concentrate more resources on rehabilitation programmes and expand APL action in the afflicted areas. The resolution on APL of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly adopted on 26 September 1996 called for ACP countries and European Union Member States to engage energetically in demining actions, for more research into demining techniques, and for significant progress to be made in achieving a global ban on APL. Most recently, the European Parliament resolution on APL of 18 December 1997, in addition to encouraging wider adherence to the Convention and its early ratification, also called for more effective co-ordination of international efforts in mine clearance and in the rehabilitation of victims.18. Community Action: The greater part of the European Union contribution comes from Community resources which are controlled and managed by the European Commission (see Annex I and 1A). Within the Commission, responsibilities in relation to mine action are shared between various Departments or Directorates-General (DGs). Overall policy co-ordination is the responsibility of the External Relations DG; Development DG is heavily engaged through development co-operation and other programmes; the Humanitarian Aid Office has a major interest as an aspect of its humanitarian concerns. Departments draw on a range of relevant Community budget lines including those for reconstruction (e.g. in Bosnia); for aid to refugees (e.g. in Afghanistan); for rehabilitation (e.g. Angola, Cambodia); for humanitarian aid; and for co-financing of NGOs; as well as the specific anti-personnel landmine budget line (now B7-661), established in 1996. In addition, ACP countries benefit from resources of the European Development Fund (EDF). The Development Council Resolution of 22 November 1996 introduced a degree of conditionality into European Union mine clearance programmes in that, with the exception of certain humanitarian situations, funds for mine clearance interventions should only be allocated to countries which ceased further use of APL, took steps to cease the trade, manufacture, and stockpiling of APL, and supported the proposed intervention. The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra has developed specific expertise in technology relevant to minefield surveys and mine detection and identification. It provides technological advice and technical support to other Commission Departments, ongoing research projects, Member States, third countries and other organisations. The Information Society DG manages indirect R&D activities funded within the Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes involving industries and scientific communities. Some technical projects are also conducted by other departments in specific geographical areas. The Research Council of 23 September 1997 and the European Parliament decided to complement the Fourth Framework Programme with a number of new activities including R&D support to humanitarian demining. A total budget of 17 MECU was implemented for R&D cost-shared indirect actions and competitive support actions in APL detection systems for civilian demining. The Fifth Framework Programme started in 1999 and identified two budget lines for RTD support, one for the IST Programme, managed by DG Information Society, and one by JRC, providing direct RTD support.19. During the period 1995-98, these varied interests within the Commission were brought together in an ad hoc Mine Clearance Co-ordination Group. This coincided with the greatly increased international focus and political engagement in relation to the landmine issue.REINFORCING THE EUROPEAN UNION CONTRIBUTION20. In response to the challenges still to be faced, the time has come to reinforce the European Union's policy, building on its positive achievements, introducing greater coherence, enhancing the effectiveness of its actions, and ensuring its important role in the international community. It will also contribute to intensified international co-operation and co-ordination. The objectives of Community action, the means to achieve these, and the principles on which it will be based, are outlined below.21. The Aim: The overall aim, in co-ordination with other members of the international mine action community, is to support the elimination of the scourge of anti personnel landmines within the next 10-15 years.22. Priorities for Mine Action. In pursuit of this goal, while giving priorities to developing countries, the European Commission will concentrate Community efforts ona. support for the elaboration, monitoring and effective implementation of a coherent and consistent humanitarian demining strategy at Community and international levels;b. assistance to seriously-afflicted states in the implementation of their obligations under the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction" (Ottawa Convention), in the context of the overall policy framework being elaborated by the UN;c. the establishment and maintenance of national structures and local capabilities within the afflicted countries to carry out mine actions with maximum effectiveness;d. in the context of immediate and unforeseeable requirements, response to humanitarian emergency, prevention of casualties and assistance to the rehabilitation of mine victims;e. assistance to the development and provision of more effective, safer, and appropriate technology and equipment, based on Community-supported R&D, including the support of in-country trial and introduction into operational use of appropriate mine action equipment and techniques.23. Political and Diplomatic action: The European Community will, by all appropriate means, endeavour to ensure that those that receive its assistance duly observe their obligations under the Convention and to persuade those that have not yet signed to cease the transfer of APL and to adhere to the Convention as soon as possible.Principles24. Practical action: The Commission will employ the greater part of its available resources on actions involving the efficient and rapid clearance of mines and the relief of casualties.25. Conditionality: With the exception of its emergency humanitarian aid programmes (which are unconditional), assistance to mine victims, and actions in direct support of vulnerable communities [8], the Commission will seek to ensure that its future mine clearance programmes only benefit countries which have subscribed to the Ottawa Convention and act in accordance with its obligations.[8]  For example, refugees and displaced persons, or where the national administration is not functioning.26. Visibility: The Commission will promote greater understanding and awareness of EU activities in relation to the APL issue, insisting that reference to the European Union engagement is reflected, as appropriate, in the publications and activities of beneficiary organisations. The Commission will maintain a centralised website and database, acting as a source of information and point of contact.27. Coherence: The Commission will encourage greater consistency in overall European Union policy through the use of a horizontal, distinct budget line supporting the elaboration, monitoring and effective implementation of a coherent and consistent humanitarian demining strategy at Community and international levels, responding to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction28. Ultimate National Responsibility: EC mine action in afflicted countries recognises that the ultimate responsibility for mine action must, wherever possible, rest with the national authorities of the country concerned. The Commission, in close co-operation with the relevant UN institutions, will place particular emphasis on assisting the creation and maintenance of appropriate and competent policy, on management and implementing structures.29. Development Co-operation: Within the framework of negotiations on the future of ACP-EU relations the possibility of linking APL action and development co-operation will be further examined. In particular, at the request of ACP States, financial resources may be allocated, in accordance with rules governing development finance co-operation, to States subscribing to the Convention. Accession to the Convention would be recognised as a basic factor of real development, and this aspect of development co-operation would be seen as a contribution to the fight against APL. A Commission Progress Report on a co-ordinated and integrated approach in the fight against anti-personnel landmines in the ACP context was submitted to and welcomed by the Development Council of 21 May 1999. The Council concluded that the integrated and co-ordinated approach still offers a valid framework for measures against antipersonnel landmines. The Council decided to come back to the issue once the Commission has submitted the present Communication.30. Military Co-operation: Whereas operational requirements between military minefield breaching and civilian demining are significantly different, there is a potential synergy between military and civil capabilities in the demining field which has yet to be fully exploited by the European Union, in particular in the context of its emerging European policy on security and defence. A specific action is to further refine and improve access to very high resolution images, provided by NATO, in support to mine survey action. Such support should be established, particularly in the context of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council..Means31. The Case for specific legislation on Anti-Personnel Mines: The various budget lines currently used for financing mine action have different legal bases [9] Whereas mine action is an important element of many humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, and planning of demining activities will remain an integral part of reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes, based on their specific legal bases, mine action under the Ottawa Convention is also a discrete and specialised activity which responds to its own priorities, operational requirements, and distinct political imperatives. A specific Regulation will facilitate systematic programming and ensure greater co-ordination, transparency and visibility, and therefore accountability of actions, to be supported by a much-enhanced horizontal, distinct budget line, operating according to one set of rules and procedures, and appropriate organisational adjustments. A comprehensive and consistent demining strategy which aims to improve the co-ordination, coherence, and effectiveness of the interventions is highly desirable on both political and operational grounds.[9]  including Council regulation (EC) N° 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid (OJ L 163, 2.7.1996); Council regulation (EC) n° 2258/96 of 22 November 1996 concerning rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries; Council regulation (EC) No 1628/96 of 25 July 1996 concerning aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, the federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Council Regulation (EC) n° 443/97 of 3 March 1997 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries; and the Joint Action of 1 October 1996 on anti-personnel landmines (OJ L 260, 12.10.96) concerning funds reserved for disarmament actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy.32. Improved International Co-ordination and Complementarity: The multitude of financial instruments used in support of mine action poses specific problems of co-ordination, coherence and transparency. There is clearly a case for enhanced international co-ordination, rationalisation of procedures, and strengthening the consistency of Community actions. More effective and properly co-ordinated action by the main sponsors of mine actions both at the global level and in each of the afflicted countries will be supported by the strengthened, distinct budget line, responding to the requirements of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction. As in the past, the European Union supports the development of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) within the UN structure as the focal point for data and information to assist donors and for the development of UN programmes, in consultation with donors and other stakeholders. The Commission and Member States have played a full part in the Mine Action Support Group (MASG), and maintain close liaison with UN MAS.33. As regards European Union mine action, complementarity and consistency between the policies of the Community and those of the Member States in respect of both global initiatives and individual recipient countries is crucial to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Of equal importance is the coherence of de-mining action with other EU action in afflicted countries. In order to guarantee complementarity and consistency of de-mining policy, the Commission will establish an Expert Group composed of de-mining experts of the Member States and relevant international organisations, which will advise the Commission in the drawing up of horizontal guidelines and priorities for mine-actions., This Group will be established on the adoption by the European Parliament and by the Council of the draft regulation on Antipersonnel Landmines.. This Group will provide a forum for the exchange of information between Member States and relevant international organisations, on the one hand, and the Commission on the other, on APL policy and horizontal programmes. On the basis of these exchanges, the Commission will formulate guidelines for the promotion of effectiveness, consistency and coherence of the different mine actions. These policy guidelines will be communicated by the Commission to the geographical committees concerned.34 For specific projects which go beyond the threshold for autonomous Commission decisions, the geographical committees will also provide guidance to the Commission on the selection of projects. Commission will ensure that all proposals for mine actions submitted to geographic committees are in conformity with these guidelines and priorities.35. Military Co-operation: There is a potential synergy between military and civil capabilities in the demining field which has yet to be fully exploited, in particular as regards military expertise in trials of technical solutions. The European Union, in the context of its emerging European policy on security and defence, will consider specific actions requiring military support, based on experience in Croatia and Kosovo. The Commission has previously provided mine-clearance equipment to assist IFOR/SFOR operations in Bosnia. In Kosovo, WEU supports the development and maintenance of a satellite-based geographic information system for demining through its satellite-generated images and data.36. Resource Commitment: The European Commission will strengthen its support for the elaboration, monitoring and effective implementation of a comprehensive strategy for humanitarian demining at Commission, EU and international levels on the basis of an enhanced horizontal, distinct budget line (B7-661). The Council, the European Parliament and the ACP-European Union Joint Assembly have repeatedly stressed the need to channel additional resources to tackle the issue. The European Community will aim to sustain at least its level of financial contribution to mine action over the years to come. It would be highly desirable if the financial reference for the implementation of Community mine action programmes reached the 185 million EUR benchmark in the seven-year period 2000-2006, with annual appropriations that would probably not exceed EUR30 million. These figures reflect the level of expenditure made by the European Union in the period 1992-98.37. Research Activities: The European Union's Fourth Framework Programme aimed at the development and field trial of advanced mine detection equipment. Funds under the Fifth Framework Programme (see point 15) will be used in conformity with the overall Commission civilian demining policy, whenever appropriate and, for decisions in principle, based on consultations with the Mine Action Co-ordination Group of the Commission.The Commission will strengthen guidance to the RTD community and industry involved in civil demining. In particular, it will endeavour to contribute to improve the transparency of the market, support documentation on its sustainability, establish transparency as regards technological requirements in mine afflicted countries, link R&D support to real market demand and establish quality standards for equipment. The Commission decided to develop this policy, in its first phase, in the context of the Stability Pact. For this purpose, RTD funds under the Fifth Framework will be used according to this emerging policy.DG JRC will provide technical advice and support to Commission Departments, especially in the field of testing procedures and validation, maintain appropriate databases, and conduct technical liaison/collaboration with external partners, in particular on standards. Further details on the required EU demining technology activities are reflected in the Demining Technology Action Plan included in Annex 2.38. Information Management: The Commission will assist, under the international leadership of relevant UN organisations and closely co-ordinated with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the establishment of reliable Information Management systems in the afflicted countries, and for its own headquarters management purposes, taking account of developments in train elsewhere. In this regard, the Development DG is carrying out trials in a variety of environments in Southern Africa. Satellite generated images are being provided by WEU to both the Commission and the UN information system under development. A geographical information management system has been identified as a suitable management tool for co-ordination. The Commission will implement and maintain a central database on NGOs, commercial enterprises, experts, business opportunities, on-going projects and other related information. A Commission Internet website has been set up and will be further refined.CONCLUSION39. The Commission recognises the political and humanitarian importance of sustaining the European Community contribution to overcoming the world-wide problems of APL, and intends to do this with even greater resolve, coherence, and effectiveness. The European Parliament and the Council are invited to support the orientations of this Communication and to decide on the proposed Regulation.ANNEX 1EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR MINE ACTIONS [10] WORLD-WIDE 1992-1998 [11] (in ECUS)[10]  As well as demining (i.e. mine clearance to humanitarian standards) "mine action" includes mine awareness education, advocacy, information management, victim assistance and rehabilitation, survey and marking of suspected areas, detection and identification of landmines, training of specialist personnel, and landmine destruction[11]  Figures are approximate and include the full range of actions financed by the European Community, even actions taken on the basis of decisions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The bilateral actions of individual EU Member States are not included.Afghanistan  //  39,010,000Angola  //  21,866,818Bosnia  //  15,874,733Cambodia  //  28,167,631Croatia  //  2,800,000Ethiopia  //  178,760Laos  //  3,900,000Mozambique  //  15,308,906Nicaragua  //  250,000Northern Iraq  //  12,350,000Somalia  //  3,550,000Tadjikistzan  //  200,000Zimbabwe  //  10,000,000Support for SADC  //  2,070,000Support for ICRC  (Assistance to mine victims)  //  9,430,000Demining Technology R&D  //  17,700,000 [12][12]  Includes 15mecu under 4th FP,1.7 mecu of other support projects, and I mecu for feasibility studies relating to a multi-sensor mine-detection system.Total  //  182,656,848ANNEX 1AEUROPEAN UNION (EUROPEAN COMMUNITY) MINE ACTIONS 1998&gt;TABLE POSITION&gt;1. Including funds committed on the 1997 budget for use in 1998. The figures do not include the bilateral contributions of individual EU Member States.  2. Types of Action: 1: Survey/Assessment; 2: Deminig, 3: Victim Assistance; 4: Capacity Building; 5: Technology/Equipment; 6: Mine AwarenessANNEX 2Demining Technology Action PlanAim To ensure that more effective, appropriate, and safer equipment is made available to support mine action programmes as quickly as possible and on a sustainable basis, to assist achievement of the wider international goal of overcoming the landmine problem in 10-15 years.Priorities for Development of Demining Technology- Responding to the needs of the user community, with emphasis on:- Improving area survey of suspect locations;- Enhancing present technology for close-in mine detection and identification;- Implementing advanced information management methods;- Introducing quality management processes.- Assistance in fulfilment of obligations by States resulting from the Ottawa Convention.Key actionsOperational Requirements- To prepare, using a group of experts, Statements of Operational Requirements (SOR) reflecting the needs of those engaged in operational mine action. This task will be harmonised with the parallel effort by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UN MAS). The expert group will be established during the first half of 1999 with the aim of producing the first SOR by the end of 1999. A global catalogue for all afflicted countries will be established and continuously updated. The first version of such a complete catalogue will be available by the year 2000.Standards- Creation and regular update of a reference manual for common testing standards for demining technology through a joint working group involving European Union Member States, Canada, US etc.Test and Evaluation Facilities- Existing test and evaluation facilities will be identified and an international network for assessment of demining tools will be created by the year 2000 to promote the quick deployment of useful and affordable technologies for mine action. (This network will involve European Union Member States, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Canada, US, and others and will be linked to Mine Action Centres to ensure inclusion of current operational information)- Establishment of a disciplined, scientific and multinational test, evaluation, and certification programme to address demining equipment, processes, procedures and technology.- R&D projects for developing new tools for demining and operational projects involving the deployment of new tools, supported by the Commission, will be encouraged to assess these tools at the Commission's JRC facilities.Demonstration Experiments- Implement technology demonstration projects in afflicted countries as soon as possible to expedite the development of new operational procedures and practices, and provide information on the potential impact of new technologies on mine action operations. (Each project will involve systematic preparation including establishment of SORs, transformation into equipment requirements (SERs), and assessment according to the agreed standards at the test and evaluation facility, e. g. at the Commission's JRC). At least three experiments are foreseen to take place in the years 2000,2002, and 2004.Development of Advanced Equipment- Support the development of advanced appropriate tools for close-in mine detection in order to improve speed, cost and safety of demining operations according to short (2 year), medium (2-5 year), and long-term (5 years +) requirements.Information Management- Design, implementation, operation and maintenance, of a standard Geographical Information System (GIS) for mine infected countries. This will be one element of a suite of advanced information management tools to be developed for all mine actions supported by the European Union. The effort will be co-ordinated with the GICHD, acting in this area on behalf of UN MAS. A prototype GIS will be implemented in 1999.On acceptance, the system will be extended to all mine-afflicted countries supported by the European Union.- Creation of a Demining Technologies Information Forum in close co-operation with European Union Member States, GICHD, Canada, US and others.Mine Survey- Support for new, effective, objective and reliable tools to identify hazardous areas, so that mine action planning and prioritised resource allocation can be carried out on a well-informed basis. This effort will commence in 1999 making use of existing data and tools.Mine Field Marking- To provide new tools to mark off mine fields in low priority areas, and containment depending on effective decision-making and deployment of resources.Operational Deployment of Equipment- The Commission recognises that the whole-life costs of major equipment (e. g. research and development, procurement, deployment, operational use, maintenance, repair and system upgrades, training of operators) may involve significant financial commitments and exposure to risks which cannot be covered by the approach so far adopted by the international community. As part of its overall mine action strategy, the European Commission, in co-operation with other organisations, will seek to establish a mechanism to support the deployment and up keeping of selected equipment for use as a contribution to wider operational demining programmes.In-house research by the JRCResponding to the needs of the user community, the JRC is complementing the action plan with in-house research in the following areas:- Establishment of a landmine "signature" database in close collaboration with partners within and outside the European Union;- Improvement of the identification of mine-infected areas using air- and space-borne imageryDevelopment of algorithms for multi-sensor information fusion.