2003/276/CFSP: Council Decision 2003/276/CFSP of 14 April 2003 concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to the destruction of ammunition for small arms and light weapons in Albania
Date: 2003-04-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Albania, EU aid, financial aid, firearms and munitions, weapons' destruction

L 99/60

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

17.4.2003

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

COUNCIL DECISION 2003/276/CFSP

of 14 April 2003

concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union
contribution to the destruction of ammunition for small arms and light weapons in Albania

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP of 12 July 2002
on the European Union's contribution to combating the desta-
bilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons and repealing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP (1), and in
particular Article 6 thereof,
in conjunction with the second
indent of Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union,

(6)

(7)

The European Union therefore intends to offer financial
assistance to the NAMSA project in accordance with
Title II of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP.

The Commission will ensure an adequate visibility of the
contribution of
including by
appropriate measures taken by NAMSA,

the EU to the project,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

In Common Position 97/357/CFSP of 2 June 1997 on
Albania (2) the European Union expressed its intention
to help Albania to promote the democratic process, the
return to political stability and internal security. The
excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammu-
nition poses a threat to peace and security and reduces
the prospects for sustainable development; this is acutely
the case in Albania.

In pursuing the objectives set out in Article 1 of Joint
Action 2002/589/CFSP, the European Union envisages
operating within the relevant international fora and in a
regional context, as appropriate,
to render assistance
through international organisations, programmes and
agencies as well as regional arrangements.

The Albanian Ministry of Defence has identified a large
amount of SALW ammunition, surplus to their require-
ments or recovered from the public. Much of the ammu-
nition is
incorrectly packaged and stored in inap-
propriate locations and conditions.

The NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA),
under the terms of the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund,
is managing a project aimed at the consolidation and
demilitarisation
SALW ammunition,
surplus
amounting to a total of 11 665 tonnes, during a period
of four years.

of

(5)

The Commission has agreed to be entrusted with the
implementation of this Decision.

(1) OJ L 191, 19.7.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 153, 11.6.1997, p. 4.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The European Union shall contribute to the destruction

1.
of surplus SALW ammunition in Albania.

2.
For this purpose, the European Union shall provide finan-
cial support to the NAMSA project aimed at the consolidation
and demilitarisation of surplus SALW ammunition.

this Decision. To that end,

The Commission shall be entrusted with the implementa-
3.
tion of
the Commission shall
conclude a financing agreement with NAMSA on the condi-
tions for use of the European Union contribution, which will
take the form of a grant. Amongst other things, this grant will
be used to cover, over a period of 12 months, salaries, travel
expenses, supplies and equipment necessary for the destruction
of surplus SALW ammunition in Albania. The financing agree-
ment will stipulate that NAMSA shall ensure visibility of the
European Union contribution to the project, appropriate to its
size.

Article 2

The financial reference amount for the purpose referred

1.
to in Article 1 shall be EUR 820 000.

The management of

the expenditure financed by the
2.
amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject
to the
Community procedures and rules applicable to the general
budget of the European Union.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Article 3

Article 5

The Commission shall submit regular reports on the implemen-
tation of this Decision to the relevant Council bodies, in accor-
dance with Article 9(1) of the Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP.
This information will in particular be based on regular reports
to be provided by NAMSA under its contractual relationship
with the Commission, as stipulated in Article 1.

Article 4

1.
This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.
It shall expire twelve months after the financing agreement
between the Commission and NAMSA has been concluded.

This Decision shall be reviewed ten months after the date

2.
of its adoption.

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2003.

For the Council

The President

A. GIANNITSIS