Council Decision 2004/833/CFSP of 2 December 2004 implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to ECOWAS in the framework of the Moratorium on Small Arms and Light Weapons
Date: 2004-12-02
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU aid, Economic Community of West African States, arms control, arms limitation, financial aid, firearms and munitions, technical cooperation

4.12.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 359/65

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

COUNCIL DECISION 2004/833/CFSP

of 2 December 2004

implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to
ECOWAS in the framework of the Moratorium on Small Arms and Light Weapons

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Article 2

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP of 12
July 2002 on the European Union's contribution to combating
the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and
light weapons
in
conjunction with Article 23(2) of
the Treaty on European
Union,

(1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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

In pursuing the objectives set out in Article 1 of Joint
Action 2002/589/CFSP, the European Union envisages
forums to
operating within the relevant
promote confidence-building measures. This Decision is
accordingly intended to implement the said Joint Action.

international

The European Union considers that a financial contri-
bution and technical assistance would help to consolidate
the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS)
initiative concerning small arms and light
weapons.

The European Union therefore intends to offer financial
support
in
accordance with Title II of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP,

and technical

to ECOWAS

assistance

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The European Union shall contribute towards imple-
1.
menting projects in the framework of
the ECOWAS Mora-
torium on the Import, Export and Manufacture of Small
Arms and Light Weapons.

2.
To this end, the European Union shall offer a financial
contribution and technical assistance to set up the Light
Weapons Unit within the ECOWAS Technical Secretariat and
convert the Moratorium into a Convention on small arms and
light weapons between the ECOWAS Member States. The
detailed arrangements for this assistance are set out
in the
Annex.

(1) OJ L 191, 19.7.2002, p. 1.

1.
In order to achieve the objectives specified in Article 1,
the Presidency shall appoint a project manager based in Abuja,
Nigeria.

The project manager shall perform his tasks under the

2.
responsibility of the Presidency.

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

4.
In carrying out his activities, the project manager shall
cooperate, as appropriate, with local missions of Member
States and the Commission.

Article 3

imple-
The Commission shall be entrusted with the financial
mentation of this Decision. To that end,
it shall conclude a
financing agreement with ECOWAS on the conditions for use
of the European Union contribution, which shall take the form
of a grant. Amongst other things, this grant shall cover, over a
period of 12 months, salaries, travel expenses, supplies and
equipment necessary for setting up the Light Weapons Unit
within the ECOWAS Technical Secretariat and converting the
Moratorium into a Convention on small arms and light
weapons between the ECOWAS Member States. The financing
agreement to be concluded shall stipulate that ECOWAS must
ensure visibility of the European Union contribution, appro-
priate to its size.

Article 4

The financial reference amount for the purposes referred

1.
to in Article 1 shall be EUR 515 000.

The Presidency and the Commission shall submit to the
2.
relevant Council bodies regular reports on the consistency of
the European Union's activities in the field of small arms and
in particular with regard to its development
light weapons,
Joint Action
policies,
2002/589/CFSP. More particularly,
the Commission shall
report on the aspects referred to in the first sentence of
Article 3. This information shall be based, amongst other
things, on regular reports to be supplied by ECOWAS under
its contractual relationship with the Commission.

in accordance with Article 9(1) of

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Official Journal of the European Union

4.12.2004

Article 5

Article 7

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption. It
shall expire on 31 December 2005.

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

Article 6

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

For the Council
The President

J. P. H. DONNER

Done at Brussels, 2 December 2004.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX

PROJECT ON EU ASSISTANCE TO ECOWAS

Objective of the project: conversion of the ECOWAS Moratorium on the Import, Export and Manufacture of Small Arms
and Light Weapons into a legally binding regional Convention in December 2005, with a view to an operational West
African contribution to the 2006 review conference on the United Nations Programme of Action.

Timetable and implementation of the project: presentation to ECOWAS Heads of State in December 2005 of a draft
regional Convention on light weapons.

— January-June 2005: evaluation of a legislative and regulatory system for small arms and light weapons in the 15

ECOWAS countries.

— Use of expertise gained in this area by the Programme for Coordination and Assistance on Security and Devel-
opment (PCASED March 1999 to November 2004) when establishing national commissions with the assistance of
civil society.

— Putting in place of an African expert responsible for evaluation, with expertise in small arms and light weapons in
the ECOWAS area (from amongst PCASED personnel), under the control of the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS.
One-week stay in each ECOWAS country in order to determine specific national approaches vis-à-vis the problem
of light weapons.

— Taking into account of experience in this area by other regional African organisations (South African Development

Community (SADC) East Africa):

— SADC Firearms Protocol (2001).

— Nairobi coordinated agenda for action on the problem of the proliferation of light weapons (2004).

— Preparatory meeting within the Light Weapons Unit of ECOWAS with a view to organising a seminar/negotiating
session (Abuja). Presentation by the PCASED expert to the Light Weapons Unit of the results of the regional
evaluation.

— July-September 2005

— Drawing up of the draft regional convention by the Light Weapons Unit.

— Promotion of the draft convention to ECOWAS States by the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat.

— October-November 2005

— Organisation of a seminar/negotiating session in Abuja involving State representatives and national experts from

the 15 ECOWAS States.

— Finalisation of a draft regional Convention by the Light Weapons Unit.

— December 2005

— Presentation to ECOWAS Heads of State of the final draft Convention during an ordinary ECOWAS summit, and

opening for adoption.