2001/758/CFSP: Council Common Position of 29 October 2001 on combating the illicit traffic in conflict diamonds, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts
Date: 2001-10-29
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: illicit trade, precious stones, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role, war

L 286/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30.10.2001

COUNCIL COMMON POSITION

of 29 October 2001

on combating the illicit traffic in conflict diamonds, as a contribution to prevention and settlement
of conflicts

(2001/758/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in partic-
ular Article 15 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Conflict diamonds fuel some of the bloodiest conflicts in
Africa. There is a clear need for measures to be taken to
help prevent and resolve conflicts.

On 11 and 12 May 2000 Kimberley (South Africa) saw
the start of the eponymous process, bringing the main
diamond exporting, processing and importing countries
together with representatives of the diamond industry
and civil society in order to discuss and introduce meas-
ures to eliminate the market in conflict diamonds.

Over the successive stages of the Kimberley process, the
aim has gradually hardened into establishing an inter-
national certification scheme for rough diamonds, based
and on agreed
on national
certification schemes
level.
minimum standards at international

On 29 October 2001 the Council authorised the
Commission to negotiate an international certification
scheme in the framework of a binding international
agreement.

On 1 December 2000 the United Nations General
Assembly adopted Resolution 55/56/2000 on breaking
the link between illicit transactions in rough diamonds
and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and
settlement of conflicts. The role of rough diamonds in
conflicts is on the agenda for the 56th session of the
General Assembly.

(6)

The United Nations Security Council has also adopted
Resolutions — 1173(1998), 1295(2000), 1306(2000)
and 1304(2000) — taking restrictive measures against

(7)

(8)

the rebel movements in Sierra Leone and Angola and
against the government of Liberia. The Council, too, has
adopted restrictive measures pursuant to those Resolu-
tions.

in Göteborg,

In June 2001,
the European Council
adopted a programme for the prevention of violent
conflicts, which states in particular
that combating
illegal trade in diamonds is a factor in conflict preven-
tion.

On 14 May 2001 the European Union adopted
Common Position 2001/374/CFSP concerning conflict
prevention, management and resolution in Africa (1),
which states in particular that the Union will cooperate
in promoting universal respect for embargoes related to
the illegal exploitation of and trade in high-value
commodities,

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The European Union and its Member States shall support and
contribute to the efforts of the international community to
break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of
armed conflict.

Article 2

The European Union notes that the community is to conduct
negotiations to establish an international certification scheme
in the context of a binding international agreement.

Article 3

To promote the objective stated in Article 1, Member States
will:

— discuss the question of conflict diamonds in the context of

their bilateral or multilateral relations,

— consult, particularly in the United Nations and the fora
concerned, on the most effective means of combating
conflict diamonds,

— call on the countries chiefly concerned to support and join
the multilateral agreement drawn up under the Kimberley
process.

(1) OJ L 132, 15.5.2001, p. 3.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 286/3

Article 4

This Common Position shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Article 5

Done at Luxembourg, 29 October 2001.

For the Council

The President

L. MICHEL