Annual Report on the implementation of the EU Joint Action of 17 December 1998 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (1999/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June 1997
Date: 2001-08-01
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: conventional weapon, fight against crime, firearms and munitions, fraud, illicit trade, personal weapon

1.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 216/1

(Acts adopted pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union)

ANNUAL REPORT

on the implementation of the EU Joint Action of 17 December 1998 on the European Union’s
contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons (1999/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June
1997

(2001/C 216/01)

INTRODUCTION

On 26 June 1997, the EU programme for preventing and
combating illicit trafficking in conventional arms was adopted
by the General Affairs Council of the European Union, and on
17 December 1998, the Council adopted a Joint Action on the
European Union’s contribution to combating the destabilising
accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light
weapons. Since
the Member States have gained
considerable experience in addressing the scourge of small
arms and light weapons through specific actions in various
affected regions of the world.

then,

The scope of this report is, in principle,
limited to the year
2000. However, since it is the first report under the Joint
Action, it also contains some information on prior activities.
As a background, the Joint Action and the programme are
summarised below.

The associated countries of central and eastern Europe and
Cyprus and the EFTA countries members of the EEA have
aligned themselves with this programme and the Joint Action.

The Joint Action (1999/34/CFSP) on the European Union’s
contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread
of small arms and light weapons

fora

(e.g.

to build consensus

the United Nations

In pursuing the objectives of the Joint Action, the EU has
in regional and
enhanced its efforts
international
the
and
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and
among affected States. The EU has participated actively in the
preparations for the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in
Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (New York,
9 to 20 July 2001), as well as in the negotiations of the
Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in
Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition
supplementing
against
Transnational Organised Crime, adopted by the UN General
Assembly on 31 May 2001. The EU has also had many
bilateral contacts in the framework of political dialogue.

the United Nations Convention

objectives. The

The EU adopted a Joint Action (JA) on small arms on 17
December 1998. The JA proposes a series of objectives,
principles and measures that apply to all countries. It also calls
upon the EU to contribute to specific actions in support of the
JA’s
the
destabilising accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small
arms,
existing
accumulations to levels consistent with legitimate security
needs, and helping to solve the problems caused by such
accumulations.

contributing

combating

objectives

reduction

towards

include

the

of

This report
I covers the
is structured in three parts. Part
national efforts to address the problems related to small arms
in the Member States, such as inter-agency cooperation, newly
enacted legislation and support for relevant research. Part II
deals with international measures,
such as assistance to
projects conducted by international or regional organisations,
or non-governmental organisations, assistance to affected
EU
States
cooperation with other States is also included in Part
II.
Finally,
for a more systematic
the priorities
approach to EU assistance in the field of small arms and light
weapons (SALW) are discussed.

international

conferences.

organising

in Part

and

III,

In order to realise these objectives, the EU has pledged to work
towards building consensus in the relevant international fora,
for the realisation of a series of principles and measures aimed
at preventing the further destabilising accumulation of small
arms. These include:

(cid:151) a commitment by all countries to import and hold arms
only for their legitimate security needs, and by exporting
countries to supply small arms only to governments,
in
accordance with appropriate international and regional
restrictive arms export criteria, as provided in particular in
the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports,

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(cid:151) the establishment and maintenance of national inventories
the
of weapons owned
establishment of restrictive national arms legislation for
small arms,

authorities,

State

and

by

(cid:151) the

of

establishment

confidence-building measures,
including measures to promote increased transparency and
openness. This
achieved through regional
registers on small arms, and regular exchanges of available
information on exports, imports, production and holdings
of small arms, and on national arms legislation,

could be

(cid:151) combating illicit

trafficking of small arms through the
implementation of effective national controls of arms
transfers,

(cid:151) challenging

and
enhancing public involvement
and awareness programmes.

reversing

(cid:145)cultures of

violence(cid:146) by
through public education

Furthermore, the EU will aim at building consensus at regional
and international
levels for a series of measures aimed at
reducing existing accumulations of small arms. Such measures
could include:

(cid:151) assistance to countries seeking to control or eliminate

surplus small arms on their territory,

(cid:151) promotion of confidence-building measures and incentives
surplus or
and
subsequent

to encourage the voluntary surrender of
illegally-held
demobilisation of
rehabilitation and reintegration into civil society,

disarmament
their

the
combatants

weapons,

and

The EU programme for preventing and combating illicit trafficking in
conventional arms

The EU programme for preventing and combating illicit
trafficking in conventional arms was adopted by the General
Affairs Council on 26 June 1997.

the problems of

illicit
to address
The programme seeks
trafficking in conventional arms, particularly small arms, both
within the EU and in countries affected by illicit trafficking in
small arms. The programme consists of three main parts. The
first part suggests the fostering of enhanced law enforcement
cooperation and improving information exchange on illicit
trafficking. The second part encourages the EU and its Member
States to assist other countries in preventing and combating
illicit
trafficking of arms, e.g. by strengthening laws and
administrative measures for regulating and monitoring the
transfers of arms, and providing an adequate number of
the
appropriately trained police and customs officials for
enforcement of national arms export control
legislation. The
third part of the programme outlines ways for the EU and its
Member States to assist affected countries, especially in post
conflict situations,
in suppressing the illicit circulation and
trafficking of arms, e.g. by setting up weapons collections,
buy-back and destruction programmes,
and setting up
educational programmes to promote awareness among the
illicit
local population of
trafficking in small arms.

consequences of

the negative

A first annual report on the programme was published on 8
July 1998, and a second on 19 January 2000. The reporting
procedure under the programme is now coordinated with that
of
report covers the
programme as well as the Joint Action.

the Joint Action. Thus,

the present

(cid:151) the effective removal of surplus small arms to safe storage,
as well as their quick and effective destruction, preferably
under international supervision,

PART I

NATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SMALL ARMS RELATED
PROBLEMS

(cid:151) the

rendering

appropriate
assistance
international organisations, programmes and agencies as
well as regional arrangements.

through

of

I.A.

Cooperation,
information between administrative
enforcement agencies, etc

coordination

and

exchange

of
and law

the

assistance

to projects which make

In this respect, the EU has undertaken to provide financial and
technical
direct
a
contribution to the
abovementioned
realisation of
principles. These include programmes and projects conducted
by the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross,
other international organisations and regional arrangements, as
well as NGOs. The projects might include, inter alia, weapons
collection,
reform, and demobilisation and
reintegration programmes, as well as specific victim assistance
programmes.

security sector

regards

cooperation,

As
coordination and exchange of
information between administrative and law enforcement
agencies, and other similar measures, the Member States have
provided the following information.

In Ireland the police service cooperates with the Irish customs
and excise authorities and the Irish armed forces in their
efforts to enforce firearms legislation. Forensic testing and
tracing of all seized firearms is carried out centrally by Garda
Headquarters.

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In Sweden police authorities cooperate with the customs
authority, the National Inspectorate of Strategic Products, and
the Swedish armed forces in addressing the problems of illicit
arms trafficking and the presence of illegal arms. In the normal
process of investigating arms violations, authorities assist each
other as a matter of routine. The National Laboratory of
Forensics maintains a weapons reference library, and also a
library with firing test data relating to seized weapons. Sweden
is, together with Denmark and Norway, developing a Nordic
weapons trace database.

In Italy an ad hoc group on small arms and light weapons,
coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was established
in June 2000. This group includes
representatives of all
relevant ministries and law enforcement agencies, as well as a
representative of the National Industrial Association of Arms
Producers. A useful dialogue on SALW has also been initiated
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with some Italian NGOs.
The Ministry is, furthermore, supporting a study on the Italian
production and export of SALW,
to be completed by the
beginning of the UN Conference on small arms.

In Spain law enforcement agencies organise yearly courses on
weapons and explosives and their criminal use, a well as
seminars to share and update information on this issue, and
information on technology applied to weapons and explosives.
A new computer based system, shared by the different law
enforcement agencies
and designed to identify weapons
suspected of being linked to crimes, became operative in early
2000.

In the United Kingdom an inter-departmental small arms policy
committee was established in 1997 under the chairmanship of
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Committee meets
quarterly to monitor and coordinate policy developments on
SALW issues. There is also ongoing and regular dialogue with
interested NGOs on the subject.

I.B.

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

regards newly enacted legislation and reviews of

the
function of existing legislation, the Member States

As
practical
have provided the following information.

intermediaries

In France an effort to reform the law applicable to brokers and
other
and
war-related materiel transactions is underway. A bill has just
been approved by the Prime Minister and will be adopted in
the coming months. The new legislation requires brokers to

engaged in commercial

arms

special

register

containing details of

submit their activities to prior authorisation and obliges them
their
to keep a
transactions. Brokers will also be subjected to periodic control
by the authorities. This regime applies not only to brokers, but
also to intermediaries, and goes beyond small arms and light
weapons, as it concerns all arms and war-related material
subject to national regulation.

In Ireland exports of SALW are controlled under the Control of
Exports Act (1983). The Control of Exports Order provides a
schedule of goods that may not be exported without a licence
issued at the discretion of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade
and Employment. A Revised Control of Exports Order was
issued
licensing
requirements for exports of all items on the military list. The
possession, use and carriage of firearms are regulated in Ireland
by legislation contained in various firearms Acts. Regulations
with respect
licensed firearms are
currently being reviewed.

to the safe storage of

in 2000 to

streamline

further

Irish

in 2000, elaborated a
In Belgium the Minister of
security plan that deals, inter alia, with small arms. A new law
that will substantially modify existing legislation is scheduled
to be submitted to Parliament.

Justice,

In Sweden, possession, trade and importation of firearms are
regulated by the Firearms Act and the Military Equipment Act.
Certain amendments in order to further prevent firearms from
being used in criminal activities, and other abuse of such
weapons, were made to the firearms legislation in 2000. The
new legislation stipulates, inter alia, that local police authorities
are required to inspect that the provisions concerning the safe
storage of
firearms are adhered to. Arms dealers are not
allowed to have automatic firearms in stock. An automatic
firearm can only be ordered when the dealer has a licensed
buyer for it. Authorisation to possess handguns and automatic
firearms is limited in time to up to five years. Private citizens
may hand in unlicensed firearms
authorities,
whereupon possible charges for illegal possession may be
dropped.

to police

In December 2000 the United Kingdom announced that
it
would soon publish draft legislation (the Export Control and
Non-Proliferation Bill) that would, inter alia, introduce powers
to license brokering transactions. The Bill was subsequently
published in March 2001. In July 2000, the United Kingdom
published its third Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls,
covering the 1999 calendar year. This saw a new level of
transparency in a Report that will become ever more specific
and detailed in the future.

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In Italy
the issue of SALW has been discussed in the
Parliament, where the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the
in October approved a resolution
Chamber of Deputies
obliging the Government (cid:145)(cid:133) to take a strong stand,
in all
competent international fora,
in support of the fight against
the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons (cid:133)(cid:146)
and (cid:145)(cid:133) to strengthen, also at national
the measures
intended to intensify or better coordinate the efforts to fight
against the trade of SALW (cid:133)(cid:146).

level,

export and transit of defence

In April 2000 Italy published its tenth Annual Report on
import,
(both
authorisations and deliveries)
in accordance with Act No
185/1990. The Report, which is addressed to the Parliament
but
is also made available to the public, provides a large
amount of information by the six ministries involved in the
system of scrutiny of defence equipment exchanges.

equipment

In Germany, a motion to change the Weapons Act, which
mainly relates to the possession and use of weapons inside
Germany, has been drafted. The draft is still under discussion.
In January 2000 the Federal Government adopted amendments
to the (cid:145)Political Principles for the Export of War Weapons and
other Military Equipment(cid:146). These Political Principles
are
applicable to the export of all small arms and light weapons.
The main amendment consists of a stronger emphasis on the
human rights situation in the recipient country, which has to
be taken into account when making any export decision. In
addition,
the
exported weapons was highlighted. Finally, it was stressed that
the EU Code of Conduct forms an integral part of the Political
Principles.

securing the end-use of

the importance of

In the Netherlands the maximum penalty for illegal possession
of, and trade in small arms was increased in 2000. The
Parliamentary Assembly further agreed to draft legislation on
the transit of military items. This law is likely to enter into
force during 2001.

In Luxembourg existing legislation relating to small arms is
currently under review.

I.C.

Other initiatives or activities, e.g. support
relevant research

for

The Member States have also reported on other initiatives and
activities to combat the accumulation and uncontrolled spread,
and to prevent illicit trafficking, of small arms, such as support
for research projects.

regarding the fight against

sets out to Parliament, and, more generally, to the public,
the position of France, and her actions on the international
level
the proliferation and
uncontrolled circulation of small arms and light weapons.
to increase
The report makes a substantive attempt
the
transparency by indicating, by country of origin,
number of prior exports authorisations, by categories
defined by the Joint Action of
the European Union.
Notably,
it provides information concerning remunerated
and non-remunerated transfers that were effected in 1999
by the Ministry of Defence, particularly with regard to
small arms and light weapons. It should also be noted that
the separation between the function of export promotion
and that of control has been reinforced.

is

report

The
at
http://www.defense.gouv.fr, under the heading (cid:145)actualitØ(cid:146),
and (cid:145)tous les dossiers en ligne(cid:146).

available

internet,

the

on

(b) The

control,

brochure

(cid:145)Arms
and
French Policy(cid:146) published in 2000,
non-proliferation:
available in French and in English, deals with the issue of
SALW. Extensively distributed,
it contributes to making
French action in this area available to a wide audience.

disarmament

Sweden has supported the following projects at the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI):

(cid:151) (cid:145)Military expenditure data for African countries(cid:146), SEK

1 million,

(cid:151) (cid:145)Conflicts and small arms transfers(cid:146), SEK 480 000. This
project is in cooperation with the Swiss-based (cid:145)Small Arms
Survey(cid:146),

(cid:151) (cid:145)Internet database on European conventional arms export
Controls(cid:146), SEK 1,5 million. The purpose of the project is
information and verification of the EU Code of Conduct on
arms exports, with a focus on east and central Europe,

(cid:151) (cid:145)Conflict prevention, management and resolution in Africa(cid:146),
(cid:145)Conflict

SEK 500 000. This
prevention and armed responses(cid:146) research programme.

is a part of

the SIPRI

In France the publication of
the following two documents
represents an effort to achieve greater transparency, aiming to
reach a large public.

(a) The Defence Minister’s Report

to Parliament on French
exports of military related materials in 1999. This report

In the Netherlands an exhibition on SALW was organised at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague in January 2000.
Justice
From 1 to 12 November 2000,
organised a campaign to collect
firearms amongst
civilians
through exemption from the usual penalty. The
collected firearms will be destroyed. Some have already been
destroyed symbolically (cid:151) they were crushed with a road
roller.

the Ministry of
illegal

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In Denmark the defence authorities have destroyed 30 300
machine guns and 14 400 rifles between 1989 and 2000 as a
follow-up to the UN General Assembly resolution (cid:145)Illicit traffic
in small arms(cid:146).

In December 2000 the United Kingdom mounted a (cid:145)Focus
International(cid:146)
and
Commonwealth Office website, setting out United Kingdom
involvement in the SALW debate.

SALW on

Foreign

paper

the

on

PART II

EFFORTS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS
SMALL ARMS RELATED PROBLEMS

In the international field, actions are taken by both the EU and
the individual Member States. The following information has
been provided.

II.A.

EU action

The EU is active both as regards assistance to and cooperation
with States and international and regional organisations.

II.A.1.

Projects supported by the EU

taken the following actions as
The European Union has
regards
financial and other assistance given to
technical,
projects conducted by the UN, the ICRC, other international
organisations and regional arrangements, and NGOs, as well as
to other States, especially those in affected regions:

the

On 10 May 1999 the Council adopted an implementing
Decision (1999/320/CFSP) (1) of
Joint Action on a
European Union contribution to the collection and destruction
of weapons in Albania. This decision aimed at contributing to
promoting the collection and destruction of weapons in the
in Albania. The EU contribution of EUR
Gramsh district
500 000 was allocated to the disarmament component of the
UN DDA and UNDP pilot project. Furthermore, the Council
amended
1999
on
(1999/846/CFSP) (2) in order to extend the project to Elbasan
and Peskopja districts of Albania. On 5 April 2000 the UNDP
informed the EU Commission that it was unable to fulfil the
terms of a draft contract proposed by the Commission in
accordance with the implementing Decision. For this reason
the two Decisions on 20
the Council decided to repeal
November 2000 (3).

December

Decision

the

17

of

and

spread

collection

uncontrolled

and
through the

On 17 December 1999 the Council adopted an implementing
Decision (1999/845/CFSP) (4) of the Joint Action with a view
to an EU contribution to combating the destabilising
accumulation
SALW in
Mozambique. With this Decision the EU contributed to the
in
location,
of weapons
Mozambique
cross-border operations
between the South African Police and the Mozambique Police
(Operation Rachel). The EU provided EUR 200 000 for the
support of the South African Police Service, which was acting
fuel, air
as an implementing agency,
support, explosives and accessories as well as ration packs and
daily allowances. The project will be successfully completed
during the first half of 2001.

destruction
joint

in the acquisition of

to

the

combating

EU contribution

On 15 November 1999 the Council adopted the Decision
1999/730/CFSP implementing the Joint Action with a view to
an
destabilising
accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light
in Cambodia (5). With this decision,
the EU
weapons
contributed EUR 500 000 to promoting control, collection and
destruction of weapons in Cambodia. A Project Manager, H.J.
van der Graaf, was appointed to carry out the project. He has
been based in Phnom Penh. The Decision expired on 15
the Council decided to extend the
November 2000 but
mandate of the project manager and adopted a new Decision
2000/724/CFSP (6) on 20 November 2000. This Decision will
provide a further EUR 1 300 000 to the project, which is
conducted in close cooperation with the government of
Cambodia.

On 14 December 2000 the Council
adopted an EU
contribution of EUR 90 000 to the local police forces in South
Ossetia for a programme aiming at granting them equipment
for the collection and destruction of SALW. This contribution
is meant
to influence public opinion in favour of civil
disarmament, to consolidate and develop participation of civil
society in the process of arms collection and destruction and
to create a climate of security and reconciliation among
populations.

through the projects of

On 12 March 2001 the Council adopted an EU contribution
to combating the small arms problem in Latin America and
the Caribbean,
the United Nations
Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in
Latin America and the Caribbean, located in Lima (Peru). This
contribution seeks to help the Centre in its training activities
for customs and police officials, by means of appropriate
instruction and in its project of making available equipment
that permits the creation of databases on the accumulation of

(1) OJ L 123, 13.5.1999, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 326, 18.12.1999, p. 74.
(3) OJ L 292, 20.11.2000, p. 2.

(4) OJ L 326, 18.12.1999, p. 73.
(5) OJ L 294, 16.11.1999, p. 5.
(6) OJ L 292, 21.11.2000, p. 3.

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SALW in this
EUR 345 000.

region. The EU contribution amounts

to

operation against illicit arms trafficking, and was realised in
the form of a joint European action from 13 to 26 November
2000.

II.A.2.

EU cooperation with other States

II.B. Member State action

At the EU-USA Summit of 17 December 1999 it was decided
to establish a Working Group on SALW for regular exchanges
at the expert level with a view to increasing cooperation and
information sharing and evaluate progress achieved by the EU
and the United States of America on small arms issues. The
Group meets at least once during each EU Presidency. At its
meetings in December 2000 and June 2001 it has been
focusing on the UN 2001 Conference. As part of
the
preparations for that Conference the EU Troika has had a
number of
informal meetings with the United States of
America.

the

EU-Canada

Summit Declaration on the
Following
Establishment of a Joint Working Group on Small Arms of 16
December 1999,
the Working Group has met every six
months, lately focusing, inter alia, on the preparations for the
UN 2001 Conference. The Working Group met in December
Informal meetings with Canada have
2000 and May 2001.
also been held. An EU-Canada Workshop entitled (cid:145)Small arms
and light weapons destruction in the context of peace support
operations(cid:146) was held in Ottawa on 15 and 16 May 2001.

In 1998 the EU and the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) adopted the regional Action Programme
on light arms and illicit trafficking, providing a framework for
action as regards, inter alia, illicit trafficking, strengthening of
legal controls of arms transfers, removal of arms from society
and enhancing transparency. In 1999 an EU-SADC Working
Group on small arms was established which met for the first
time in June 2000. During its second meeting in April 2001
the Working Group discussed areas of concrete cooperation
and the preparations for the UN 2001 Conference.

In the margin of the Multi-Disciplinary Group (MDG) meetings
have been held between the EU Member States and a number
of
the
the G-8 countries, as well as Mexico, as part of
preparations for the negotiations on the UN Firearms Protocol.

The EU Member States are providing financial, technical and
other forms of assistance to projects run by the UN, by other
In
international or
addition,
the Member States are supporting affected States
directly.

regional organisations and by NGOs.

II.B.1. Member State support to UN projects

The Member States have provided support to the following
projects under the auspices of the UN.

France has implemented measures of
financial assistance of
FRF 3 million for PCASED (the Programme for coordination
and assistance for security and development, implemented by
the UNDP), and FRF 2,5 million, over five years, for the United
Nations Regional Centre in LomØ.

Sweden has made the following contributions to UN projects
related to SALW:

(cid:151) SEK

for

the

350 000

completion

the UN
Lessons-Learned Unit (cid:145)Monitoring the implementation of
disarmament,
the
demobilisation
ex-combatants(cid:146)
consultant project,

guidelines
reintegration

principles

on
of

and

and

of

(cid:151) USD 5 000 to fund the printing of

the (cid:145)Disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants in a
peacekeeping
UN
Lessons-Learned Unit,

environment(cid:146)

report

the

by

(cid:151) USD 15 000 to the Unidir (cid:145)peace building and practical
disarmament in West Africa(cid:146) project, which is linked to
PCASED,

(cid:151) USD 20 000 to the UN Regional Centre for Peace and
Disarmament
the
establishment of a clearing house for combating illicit
trafficking in small arms,

in Africa,

LomØ,

based

for

in

II.A.3.

Internal EU cooperation

(cid:151) SEK 4 million to the UNDP (cid:145)Arms for development(cid:146) project

in Elbasanj, Albania,

Within the framework of the Third Pillar Police Cooperation
Working Group (PCWG) operational project against illicit arms
trafficking (Project Arrow), Member States’ police authorities
and customs services are cooperating. The purpose is to
achieve the objective of a joint EU strategic summary review
and analysis of illicit trafficking in arms. Project Arrow which
implemented as a joint
is coordinated by Finland, was

arms,

through

(cid:151) USD 350 000 to the implementation of

the Ecowas
moratorium on the import, export and manufacture of
for
small
coordination and assistance for security and development
(PCASED). Support will continue during 2001 (the total
Swedish
to
to
USD 1 million, which places Sweden among the top
donors to the Programme).

contribution

the UNDP

Programme

amounts

PCASED

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Sweden is also contributing a junior professional officer to the
Lima-based UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and
Development in Latin America, and USD 20 000 for training
police and customs personnel, and for the establishment of a
regional clearing house for firearms.

mandate and the evolution of
the practical disarmament
measures approach to addressing specific situations, puts
forward a set of considerations for evaluating project proposals
and sets up a sample design for formulating project proposals

and

international

to
demobilisation

the Swedish National Defence College has,

in
In addition,
for Peacekeeping
cooperation with the UN Department
in
courses
contributed
Operations,
of
reintegration
(cid:145)Disarmament,
in Zimbabwe, Canada, Sweden and
ex-combatants (DD&R)(cid:146)
Ghana, using a curriculum put
together by representatives
from the Lester B. Pearson Peacekeeping Centre of Canada, the
Norwegian Armed Forces International Centre and the Swedish
National Defence College. The first course in Sweden took
place in September 2000, and drew around 20 international
and various
participants, who represented the military
governmental
organisations. The
non-governmental
objective of the course was to give a comprehensive view of
peace support missions in order to increase the understanding
of activities and programmes needed for peaceful development,
as well as to share experiences from the field. A second course
was given in June 2001. The Swedish Government has
awarded SEK 850 000 in support of this project.

and

Finland has contributed EUR 12 500 to Unidir for a small arms
trafficking project and EUR 8 350 to the United Nations
Disarmament Information Programme for a project on small
arms information.

through

610 000

The United Kingdom has so far provided GBP 1 365 000 for
the UN weapons collection programme in Albania, which
includes GBP
the United Nations
Development Programme for its pioneering project (cid:145)Weapons
in exchange for development(cid:146). The United Kingdom, further,
has provided GBP 300 000 to the Programme for coordination
and assistance for security and development (PCASED), which
seeks to implement the Ecowas Moratorium and to facilitate
the adoption of other measures in other regions in Africa.

Belgium has supported a UNIDIR-project on the role of civil
society in control of small arms in Western Africa.

II.B.2. Member State support to projects under the auspices of

other international organisations, and of NGOs

Germany has supported the following UN projects with regard
of
(cid:145)Disarmament,
to
ex-combatants (DD&R)(cid:146):

demobilisation

reintegration

and

(cid:151) Unicef project

in Sierra Leone for the reintegration of

children: DM 890 000,

(cid:151) UN Mission in the Central African Republic (Minurca)
demobilisation and reintegration programme in the Central
African Republic: USD 330 000,

(cid:151) UN Department

(UN DDA)
fact-finding mission in Niger for a (cid:145)Weapons in exchange
for development(cid:146) project: USD 61 000,

for Disarmament Affairs

(cid:151) UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa
(LomØ), programme for peace and disarmament in Africa:
USD 49 000.

The Netherlands contributed NLG 50 000 to the UN Regional
Centre in Lima for a project
in Latin America and the
Caribbean to train police and customs personnel.

Denmark has provided USD 5 000 to UN DDA for
the
preparation and printing of (cid:145)Practical disarmament measures. A
reference paper(cid:146). This reference tool describes the origins, the

regards

to projects under

As
support
auspices of
regional
international organisations other
arrangements and NGOs, the Member States have provided the
following information.

than the UN,

the

the

supports

France
importation,
the moratorium on
exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons
in west Africa, adopted by the Heads of State and Government
of ECOWAS. Furthermore, France has provided financial
support of FRF 330 000 to the National Conference of Mali
regarding small arms and light weapons, which took place in
November 2000. French action with regard to the fight against
illicit trafficking in small arms is essentially centred on bilateral
cooperation. A number of efforts have been undertaken to
support several African States to reinforce the operational
capabilities of police
services within the
and customs
framework of the fight against major trans-border trafficking,
included (financial
trafficking
in which illicit
contribution of FRF 13 million).

arms

is

for

the implementation and application of

France has also contributed financially and logistically to the
(cid:145)Seminar
the
regulation of the control of international movement of fire
arms, their parts, components and ammunition(cid:146), in Martinique
on 23 and 24 May 2000, organised by the Inter-American
Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) in the context of
the Organisation of American States and the UN Regional
Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development
in Latin
America and the Caribbean, which dealt with the question of
SALW.

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Sweden has made the following contributions to international
projects related to SALW:

(cid:151) SEK 3,3 million

to

a World Bank

project

for

demobilisation in Cambodia,

The Netherlands contributed NLG 43 000 to the publication of
the guide (cid:145)Tackling small arms and light weapons: a practical
guide for collection and destruction(cid:146) by the Programme on
security and development (SAND), the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and the Bonn International Centre for
Conversion (BICC). Finland made a contribution of EUR 8 000
to the same project.

(cid:151) USD 300 000 to the Organisation of African Unity for
regional preparations for the UN Conference on the illicit
trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,

The Netherlands further made the following contributions:

(cid:151) SEK 1 million to the Arias Foundation for Peace and
Human Progress for the development of an international
code of conduct on arms transfers, and for preparations
for the UN Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and
Light Weapons in All its Aspects.

(cid:151) NLG 900 000 to the joint project of the OAU/ISS on small

arms,

(cid:151) GBP 70 000 to the joint project of Saferworld, BASIC and

International Alert (cid:145)Biting the bullet(cid:146),

Sweden has also supported the following research projects:

(cid:151) NLG 100 000 to the project of Saferworld (cid:145)Tackling the
spread of light weapons: deepening collaboration between
EU Member States and associate countries(cid:146).

(cid:151) the Graduate Institute of International Studies (cid:145)Small arms
survey(cid:146) project, which aims to increase the knowledge of
manufacture, transfers, stockpiling and use of small arms,
and to establish (cid:145)best practices(cid:146) for the regions that the
project focuses on, with SEK 180 000 annually. This is a
Swiss project supported also by Germany, Denmark (CHF
70 000) Great Britain (GBP 30 000) ) and the Netherlands
(NLG 100 000), as well as by Canada and Norway,

(cid:151) the Saferworld (cid:145)Tackling the spread of

light weapons:
deepening collaboration between EU Member States and
associate countries(cid:146) programme of seminars, with SEK
200 000, February 1999 to January 2001,

(cid:151) the Monterey Institute (cid:145)Practical guide for working in
safe handling,
weapons-abundant
collection and destruction(cid:146), with SEK 135 000. This project
is also supported by Switzerland,

identification,

areas:

(cid:151) the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies’
project on the proliferation of small arms in Southern
Africa, with SEK 600 000.

Units of the Italian Army participated in a number of external
operations, during which the following SALW were collected
or confiscated and subsequently destroyed:

The MSU-KFOR unit:
four machine guns, 86 sub-machine
guns, 28 rifles, four anti-tank guns, 35 shotguns, 12 grenade
five rifle grenades, and 60 hand
launchers, 71 revolvers,
grenades, were handed over
to the Multinational Brigade
Destruction Centre.

The Italfor-BIH unit: one light machine gun, five automatic
rifles, two rifles and five portable launchers were collected and
destroyed.

The Italfor-Kosovo unit: 65 light machine guns,
five heavy
machine guns, 15 mortars (14 destroyed), 43 anti-tank guns
(38 destroyed), four grenade launchers, eight anti-aircraft guns
(five destroyed), 870 automatic rifles (865 destroyed), 391
rifles (387 destroyed) and 31 shotguns (28 destroyed).

Belgium has supported a study on the production of arms
abroad under Belgian licence by the Belgian NGO (cid:145)Vrede(cid:146).
Belgium has also supported the project (cid:145)Gun-free South Africa(cid:146),
in coordination with the Belgian NGO (cid:145)Broederlijk Delen(cid:146). The
purpose of the project is to raise the awareness in civil society
regarding the negative effects of the excessive spread of small
arms.

II.B.3. Actions taken by Member States in support of affected

states

The Member States have provided the following information as
regards technical, financial and other assistance given to other
States, especially those in affected regions:

Germany has supported the (cid:145)Swords into ploughshares(cid:146) project
in Mozambique: USD 161 000 project with regard to
(cid:145)Disarmament,
of
ex-combatants (DD&R)(cid:146).

demobilisation

reintegration

and

In August,
the United Kingdom facilitated an EU-funded
fact-finding visit to London by the Legal Adviser to the Deputy
Prime Minister of Cambodia on United Kingdom SALW
legislation. In September, the United Kingdom formally handed

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over a United Kingdom-made Euroshear 4 000 weapons
destruction machine to the Royal Swaziland Police, and
provided training in its use.

small

In November 2000, the United Kingdom approved funding for
arms destruction fund to begin operation in
a
2001/2002 with an allocation of GBP 140 000 for that year.
United Kingdom forces continued to play a leading role in the
weapons and ammunition collection programmes that form
part of Operation Leatherman in Kosovo and Operation
Harvest in Bosnia.

The Italian and Albanian Ministries of Defence have drafted a
memorandum of understanding on cooperation, following the
Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation for Defence between the
Italian Government and the Albanian Government of 1995.
The agreement aims at reorganising and strengthening the
Albanian Armed Forces. Italy will provide technical assistance,
advice, equipment and materials in specific fields. The main
for cooperation are stabilising and normalising the
goals
Balkan area, and providing direct assistance in reorganising the
Albanian social-political
sensitive
transition phase of the westernising and modernising process.
An Italian Experts Delegation (DIE) has been established to
the
develop assistance and cooperation activities to assist
Albanian armed forces in transforming and adapting their
military structures. DIE has been operating in Albania since 28
August 1997 together with Albanian experts.

framework during

the

supported disarmament, demobilisation and
Germany has
reintegration programmes (DD&R) in Angola, Chad, Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Mozambique, Somalia and Uganda. In the Philippines
the reintegration of former Muslim combatants in Mindanao is
two projects
being promoted within the
framework of
currently
are
(education and family health). Discussions
underway concerning the provision of
to the
support
Government of South Africa’s
rationalisation programme
(demobilisation and reintegration) via the Institute for Security
Studies (ISS). Between 1999 and 2002 funding in the amount
former
of DM 4 million is designated for the DD&R of
in Cambodia. For
combatants
former
the integration of
in Mozambique DM 13,4 million has been
combatants
designated
between 1994 and 2001. The DD&R of
ex-combatants in Sierra Leone are being prepared in the
context of a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction
programme amounting to DM 5,34 million.

the

For

of DM 1,5 million is being provided by Germany between
contribution of development
2000 and 2002.
cooperation to reducing the uncontrolled spread and misuse of
small arms, funds amounting to DM 10 million are earmarked
for the period 2001 to 2004.
in applying an
integrated and comprehensive approach, several development
projects which have an impact on combating the small arms
connection with
being
problem are
security-sector
and promoting
reform, good governance
advocacy through civil-society organisations.

In addition,

funded,

e.g.

in

In November 2000 Germany initiated a project aiming at the
effective destruction of small arms in Albania within the
framework of the (cid:145)Stability Pact for southeast Europe(cid:146): From
December 2000 to April 2001 40 000 SALW have been
destroyed by an expert team from the Albanian Ministry of
Defence in cooperation with German specialists who provide
training as well as
special material and equipment. DM
500 000 has been designated for this purpose. The project is
based on a Memorandum of 7 September 2000, in which the
Government of Albania has committed itself (cid:145)to destroy the
small arms and light weapons looted during the 1997 crisis,
including those that have already been collected and will be
collected in the future from the civilian population(cid:146).

The Netherlands has contributed NLG 300 000 to the OSCE
Voluntary Fund for Moldova for the withdrawal of Russian
military equipment from Transdniestria. The Netherlands also
financed the participation of a national expert for destruction
of ammunition to the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

the
The Netherlands has contributed to the realisation of
(cid:145)Flamme de la Paix(cid:146)
in Niger with NLG 25 000. Denmark
allocated DKR 145 000 to this project. Belgium has also
contributed.

In the autumn of 2000 Finland funded two consultants in
order to prepare small arms surveys, one in Guatemala and the
other in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This year Finland is planning to
implement some initiatives and recommendations given in
these surveys.

The Spanish Guardia Civil gives technical assistance to law
enforcement agencies in countries like Nicaragua, Guatemala,
El Salvador, Mozambique and Timor. This assistance includes
the control of small arms and explosives.

II.C. Organising

and participating
seminars and conferences by Member States

in international

The Member States have provided the following information as
regards organising and supporting international seminars and
conferences.
States have
participated in numerous seminars and workshops on export
controls and on small arms and light weapons.

the EU Member

In addition,

For the development and extended application of measures to
control the trade in small arms in the Horn of Africa, funding

In February
the United Kingdom funded the Kampala
Conference on (cid:145)Tackling small arms proliferation in eastern

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Africa and the Greater Horn(cid:146), which led to an outline Action
Plan for the subregion which will tackle the subject of arms
trafficking. DFID has
follow-up
meetings in connection with this Action Plan. The United
Kingdom is
follow-up workshops being
organised by Saferworld and the Inter-Governmental Authority
for Development.

contributed funding for

supporting five

In February 2000 Portugal organised a meeting with Amnesty
security and police equipment
International on military,
transfers, and participated in the (cid:145)Controlling the flow of
SALW from and through an enlarged EU(cid:146) seminar organised
by Saferworld.

Austria has contributed financially to the organisation of a
regional roundtable, on 14 and 15 April 2000 in Tblisi,
Georgia, entitled (cid:145)Small arms (cid:151) large measures: curbing arms
transfers as a conflict prevention strategy in the south
Caucasus(cid:146). The roundtable was organised jointly by the
East-West Institute and by Saferworld. Finland was one of the
moderators of
the roundtable. Austria provided a keynote
speaker, and French experts attended. Austria also provided
financial assistance to two delegations for their participation at
the OSCE-Seminar on small arms and light weapons, in Vienna
from 3 to 5 April 2000 and provided a keynote speaker. The
Netherlands and Finland provided financial assistance to three
delegations for their participation. Finland provided one of the
moderators. As Chair-in-Office of the OSCE, Austria, together
with International Alert and Saferworld, organised a side event
on SALW (Tackling small arms (cid:151) the OSCE Initiative and the
UN 2001 Conference), on 27 November 2000, on the margins
of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Vienna.

The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the EU/SADC
Ministerial Meeting, held in Gaborone, Botswana, on 29 and
30 November 2000. The Minister introduced the issue of
speech. The meeting resulted in the
SALW through his
adoption of
the EU/SADC Declaration on Small Arms.
Denmark has given USD 30 000, of which USD 10 000 will be
follow-up, Finland EUR 30 000, and the United
used for
Kingdom GBP 50 000 in support of the Great Lakes Region
and Horn of Africa Conference on small arms, held in Nairobi
from 12 to 15 March 2000 which was organised by the
Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC) and the
United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime
and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI).

Finland organised the international workshop (cid:145)Action plan for
small arms (cid:151) goals for the 2001 UN Conference workshop(cid:146) in
in December 2000. The workshop was
Saariselk(cid:228), Finland,
organised
Saferworld, BASIC and
International Alert and formed a part of their (cid:145)Biting the bullet(cid:146)
project, in preparation for the UN 2001 Conference.

association with

in

Belgium has sponsored a seminar organised by Saferworld on
the control of illegal transfers with a special interest for the air
transport sector.

has

Germany
Policy Dialogue
Conference on development and disarmament, on 31 October
and 1 November 2000 in Bonn, focusing on the SALW issue.

International

hosted

an

II.D.

organisations

EU and Member State participation in the work of
regional
international
arrangements in the field of conventional arms,
especially small arms and light weapons, and
efforts to build consensus in relevant regional and
international fora on the principles of the Joint
Action

and

II.D.1. The United Nations (in particular the preparations for the
UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects)

the EU attaches

the importance that

to the
Because of
measures to combat the uncontrolled spread and destabilising
accumulation of small arms,
the EU has taken an active
interest in the preparations for the UN Conference on the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its
Aspects.

surplus

The EU has put forward proposals in key areas, such as export
controls and criteria, marking and tracing, brokering, stockpile
management,
disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, assistance
for implementation of concrete measures and follow-up,
in
pursuit of a politically binding programme of action with
forward looking measures at the national, regional and global
level.

destruction,

and

In July 2000 the United Kingdom nominated Sir Michael
Weston as
the
Conference and in September he was endorsed as the EU
candidate.

the United Kingdom candidate to chair

the Netherlands,

In the margin of the first Preparatory Committee of the 2001
Conference,
together with Switzerland and
Norway, launched the initiative of a Group of Friends to the
2001 Conference, designed to give further impetus to the
Preparatory Committee process. On 28 and 29 September
2000 the Netherlands, together with Hungary, organised an
expert workshop on destruction of SALW. This workshop
resulted in a set of recommendations to the 2001 Conference
the Preparatory
which were presented to the
Committee of the Conference. During the same Preparatory
Committee session, on 29 February 2000,
the Netherlands
co-organised a public briefing with Saferworld, BASIC and
International Alert.

chair of

France, Belgium and the United Kingdom were represented on
the UN Group of Governmental Experts, established under
UNGA resolution 54/54 V. In preparation for the 2001 UN

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Conference, this Group carried out a study on the feasibility of
restricting the manufacture and trade of SALW to persons who
including in its mandate
had been authorised by States,
brokering activities,
transport and financial
operations related to illicit supplies. The United Kingdom and
other Member States also participated actively in the work of
the Geneva Group of countries working on SALW and the
Conference.

in particular

(cid:151) (cid:145)Assistance to States for curbing illicit traffic in small arms

and collecting them(cid:146) (55/33 F)

(cid:151) EU Member States co-sponsored

(cid:151) (cid:145)Relationship between disarmament

and development(cid:146)

(55/33 L)

in
In view of the 2001 United Nations Conference, France,
cooperation with Switzerland, presented, during the first
session of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference
on small arms, a discussion paper
(cid:145)Contribution to the
implementation of an international action plan for the 20001
Conference: The marking,
identification and the control of
SALW(cid:146). A seminar was organised on the issue in Geneva, on
12 and 13 March 2001.

The EU Member States have actively taken part
in the
negotiations on the Protocol against the illicit manufacturing
of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and
ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention
against
transitional organised crime, which was adopted
without vote by the General Assembly on 31 May 2001. The
EU Commission had a negotiating mandate on certain articles
of the Protocol. France has organised a working meeting of the
Member States of the Francophonie on this theme in January
2000.

the United
Furthermore, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany,
Kingdom and Sweden have participated in the work of
the
United Nations Secretary-General’s Group of Governmental
Experts on small arms, which has produced two reports on the
issue.

II.D.2. The United Nations General Assembly

Member States have taken the following positions on the
resolutions relating to small arms issues, which were adopted
by the 55th General Assembly of the United Nations:

(cid:151) (cid:145)Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament

measures(cid:146) (55/33 G)

(cid:151) Germany (tabled), EU Member States co-sponsored

(cid:151) (cid:145)Transparency in armaments(cid:146) (55/33 U)

(cid:151) Germany and the Netherlands (tabled), EU Member States

co-sponsored

(cid:151) (cid:145)Illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons(cid:146) (55/33 Q)

(cid:151) EU Member States co-sponsored

(cid:151) adopted by consensus

II.D.3. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

EU Member States have participated actively in the work of the
OSCE in the field of SALW, which has, inter alia, resulted in
the adoption of the OSCE document on SALW, at the OSCE
Ministerial Conference of 24 November 2000. The United
Kingdom coordinated negotiations through its Chairmanship
of Working Group B of the Forum for Security Cooperation.
The Document
contribution to
combating the proliferation and misuse of SALW and a major
confidence-building step towards the 2001 UN Conference.
The United Kingdom has also provided support to the OSCE
Secretariat in this context.

is a significant

regional

II.D.4. The Economic Community of West African States

Sweden is represented in the PCASED Advisory Group. See
further
financial
section II.B.2 above on Member States’
support for ECOWAS and PCASED.

II.D.5. The Wassenaar Arrangement

The EU Member States participated actively in the work of the
Wassenaar Arrangement. For example, the United Kingdom has
encouraged ongoing discussion in the Wassenaar Arrangement
about
including SALW
transfers in the information exchanges between participating
States.

the desirability and feasibility of

II.D.6.

Southern African Development Community

In regular bilateral contacts with SADC States,
including at
ministerial level, the United Kingdom has supported efforts to
bolster the EU/SADC process and the implementation of the
EU/SADC regional action programme.

II.D.7. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the North

Atlantic Treaty Organisation

EU Member States participate actively in the work of
the
EAPC. Until May 2000 the United Kingdom chaired the
EAPC/NATO Ad Hoc Working Group on SALW.

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II.D.8. Other

The issue of SALW is regularly dealt with in the political
dialogue meetings at expert level with the associated countries

PART III

PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE ASSISTANCE OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION

potential conflict, to help to develop a range of international
measures to limit the demand for SALW in such areas, and to
help governments to cope with the problems these weapons
cause. Such measures can be taken by the EU or at
the
Member State level, and by acting through the appropriate
institutions. The respective efforts of the
regional or global
Member
aim for
complementarity, and reflect the ambition to deal with the
different aspects of the small arms problem at the national,
sub-regional, regional and global level.

the Commission will

and of

States

III.A.

Priority guidelines

III.C.

The need for targeted action

of

the

spread

caused

problems

an important

SALW. Working

contribution towards
The EU can make
and
destabilising
by
eradicating
uncontrolled
the
towards
elimination of this source of destabilisation and conflict will be
a great contribution to preventing future conflicts. The actions
important steps in this
already taken by the EU represent
regard and should be followed up by determined efforts in the
same direction. The adoption by the UN Conference on the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its
Aspects, of a programme of action to prevent, combat and
eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all
its aspects would add to the commitment taken earlier by the
EU through its Joint Action on small arms.

With a view to improving and deepening the implementation
of the Joint Action and the programme, Member States have
identified a number of guidelines on issues on which decisions
should be taken or to which attention should be given in the
to
near future. These guidelines will obviously be subject
periodical reviews, according to the experience accumulated in
the process of implementing EU projects

III.B.

The need for a comprehensive approach

Although there is a wide recognition that further international
actions should be taken to deal with the problems of SALW,
there are many complex factors and processes that need to be
taken into account, such as international and internal security,
trade, civil/military relations and the role of weapons
in
society. These problems cannot be solved by one quick fix.
They must be addressed through a comprehensive approach
dealing with the different aspects of the problem ﬂ which
might differ from region to region - and the solutions must be
sought through a wide range of agreed measures. Member
States agreed that
the
reduction of existing destabilising accumulations and at the
prevention of further uncontrolled spread of these weapons.
Through assistance, local capacities to address these issues can
be strengthened.

should aim both at

such efforts

Countries with high levels of
insecurity or violence cannot
make effective use of development assistance. Therefore,
assistance to conflict-prone countries or regions should be
provided to promote security, disarmament, demobilisation
and reintegration into the society of ex-combatants as an
integrated
development
programmes.

economic

social

part

and

of

In those cases where the governments are actively concerned
with reducing the arms flow into and circulation of SALW
within their region, the EU should cooperate with them in this
task. In practice, recipient governments may lack the capacity
to implement their own control programmes. Therefore, the
EU is prepared to consider providing practical support
for
initiatives such as capacity building and training, awareness
raising etc.

III.D.

The need for criteria for allocation of funds

the projects

Assistance from the EU for
that have been
supported up to now have been decided on an ad hoc basis.
To ensure that all
future projects are comprehensive and
targeted, the Member States have identified the following basic
criteria, against which the EU will make a preliminary
assessment of applications.

(cid:151) Assistance by the EU in the field of SALW must be based

on a genuine political will in the recipient State.

(cid:151) Assistance projects will be based on close cooperation with
the authorities in the recipient State and the role of
different actors should be defined.

As regards financial support to SALW related projects, the
objective of the EU will be to strengthen the efforts to reduce
the availability and supply of SALW to areas of conflict or

(cid:151) The proposed projects will enhance either local, national
or regional security within the recipient State/region (e.g.
contribute to control of small arms, confidence building
measures, reconciliation, regional stability).

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(cid:151) In

projects, which

collection
component, all weapons collected should, in principle, be
destroyed.

a weapons

include

(cid:151) Assistance in the field of SALW should be part of an
overall development and security strategy with regard to
the recipient country. In cases where this is not possible,
the project proposal should outline how this activity will
contribute to integrating SALW policy into wider security
and development policy.

(cid:151) For each project, clear objectives will be established and
bench marks and time lines identified, so as to make it
possible to assess impact of the project.

(cid:151) Requests

for assistance should clearly state how the
proposed project will further the aims and objectives of
the EU Joint Action.

(cid:151) Requests

for assistance should clearly state how the
proposed project would enhance the recipient State’s
ability to implement existing regional or
international
commitments.

EU Member States and the Commission will engage in a
dialogue within the relevant working groups with a view to
developing or deepening common criteria for EU projects.

III.E.

The need for thorough assessment and evaluation

It is important that the projects supported by EU funds are
thoroughly assessed and evaluated. Measures to achieve this
include:

(cid:151) The implementation of the projects should be according to

sound principles of financial management.

(cid:151) A final report will be submitted at the end of a project,

summarising the results achieved.

(cid:151) An assessment will be made in order to evaluate if its
objectives have been reached and if a follow-up is needed.
Such an assessment will be made at least towards the end
of the project. Projects, which are implemented over a long
period of time, or to which the financial contribution of
the European Union is important, will be assessed also
during the period of implementation.

(cid:151) The assessment will be carried out by independent experts.

(cid:151) The final report and the assessment will also be used to

identify lessons to be learned for future projects.