Council Joint Action 2008/487/CFSP of 23 June 2008 in support of the universalisation and implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, in the framework of the European Security Strategy
Date: 2008-06-23
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: anti-personnel weapon, cooperation policy, international convention, non-proliferation of arms, prohibited weapon, weapons' destruction

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III

(Acts adopted under the EU Treaty)

ACTS ADOPTED UNDER TITLE V OF THE EU TREATY

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/487/CFSP

of 23 June 2008

in support of the universalisation and implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition
of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction,
in the framework of the European Security Strategy

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
particular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

In December 2007,
the United Nations General
Assembly adopted Resolution 62/41 on the implemen-
tation of the Convention, inviting all States that have not
signed it to accede without delay, urging all States that
have signed but not ratified the Convention to ratify it
without delay and urging all States, where in a position
to do so,
to promote adherence to the Convention
through bilateral, sub-regional, regional and multilateral
contacts, outreach, seminars and other means,

(1)

(2)

(3)

On 12 December 2003, the European Council adopted
the European Security Strategy, which calls for an inter-
national order based on effective multilateralism. The
European Security Strategy acknowledges
the United
Nations Charter as the fundamental framework for inter-
national relations. Strengthening the United Nations and
helping to equip it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act
effectively is a priority of the European Union.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51/45 of
10 December 1996 urged all States to pursue vigorously
an effective,
legally binding international agreement to
ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of
anti-personnel landmines.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stock-
piling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines
and on their Destruction (‘the Convention’) was opened
for signature on 3 December 1997 and entered into
force on 1 March 1999. It constitutes a comprehensive
international instrument to deal with all matters related
to
use,
production and trade, victim assistance, mine clearance
and stockpile destruction.

anti-personnel

landmines,

including

their

(4)

In December 2004, the States Parties to the Convention
adopted the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009 and agreed
to various understandings regarding the universalisation
and implementation of the Convention in all its aspects.

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. With a view to supporting the implementation of the
Convention on the Prohibition of
the Use, Stockpiling,
Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their
Destruction (the Convention)
in line with United Nations
General Assembly Resolution 62/41, the European Union (EU)
shall pursue the following objectives:

(a) promotion of the universalisation of the Convention and
the Second Review

support
Conference of the Convention in 2009;

the preparation of

for

(b) support for full implementation of the Convention by States

Parties.

In order to achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph

2.
1, the EU shall undertake the following projects:

(a) organisation of up to six regional or sub-regional seminars
the
second Review

increasing accession to and ratification of
for

preparing

the

aimed at
Convention
Conference in 2009;

and

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(b) provision of continuous technical advice and up to 25
targeted technical assistance visits to States Parties with a
view to making recommendations on the full
implemen-
tation of the Convention.

A detailed description of these projects is set out in the Annex.

Article 2

The Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General of the
1.
Council/High Representative for the CFSP (SG/HR), shall be
responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action. The
Commission shall be fully associated.

The technical implementation of the projects referred to in
2.
Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the Implementation Support
the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian
Unit of
It shall perform this task under the
Demining (ISU/GICHD).
this
control of
purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements
with the ISU/GICHD.

the SG/HR, assisting the Presidency. For

3.
The Presidency, the SG/HR and the Commission shall keep
each other regularly informed about the projects, in accordance
with their respective competences.

Article 3

The financial reference amount for the implementation of
1.
the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1 070 000,
to be funded from the general budget of the European Union.

The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in
2.
paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the
procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the
European Union.

The Commission shall supervise the proper management
3.
of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2, which shall take
it shall conclude a
the form of a grant. For this purpose,
financing
agreement with
financing

the GICHD.

The

agreement shall stipulate that the ISU/GICHD is to ensure visi-
bility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

endeavour

The Commission shall

4.
the
financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as
possible after the entry into force of this Joint Action. It shall
inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the
date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

to conclude

Article 4

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report
to the
Council on the implementation of this Joint Action on the
basis of regular reports prepared by the ISU/GICHD. These
reports shall form the basis for the evaluation by the Council.
The Commission shall be fully associated. It shall provide infor-
mation on the financial aspects of the implementation of this
Joint Action.

Article 5

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of
adoption.

its

It shall expire 21 months after the date of conclusion of the
financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or six months
after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been
concluded within that period.

Article 6

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

Done at Luxembourg, 23 June 2008.

For the Council
The President

I. JARC

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1.

Objectives

ANNEX

The overall objectives of this Joint Action are the promotion of the universalisation of the Convention, support for
full implementation of the Convention by States Parties and support for the preparations for the Second Review
Conference which will take place in 2009. Maximum synergy will be ensured with other relevant EU financial
instruments.

2.

Projects

2.1.

Promotion of the universalisation and implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stock-
piling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, and preparation of the 2009
Review Conference.

2.1.1. Project objective

To promote adherence to the Convention through regional and sub-regional seminars and to support the
preparations for the Second Review Conference.

2.1.2. Project description

Up to six regional or sub-regional workshops will be organised to prepare for the Second Review Conference and
to encourage further universalisation of the Convention.

2.1.3. Project results

Increased membership of the Convention and renewed global interest in the importance of the objectives of and
the obligations resulting from ratification of the Convention, as well as a better understanding of the needs of
future States Parties concerning anti-personnel landmine programmes.

Better preparation of the Second Review Conference which will take place in 2009, through enhanced regional
input and networking.

2.1.4. Seminar venues

The ISU/GICHD will present a list of potential venues for the regional seminars which will then be endorsed by the
Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.

The criteria used for choosing the venues for the seminars will include the willingness and commitment of a
relevant State in a particular region to host a seminar, the level of commitment to the Convention by States in the
region and, if relevant, the commitment of a relevant regional or sub-regional organisation.

2.1.5. Project beneficiaries

States party and not party to the Convention in the regions where the seminars will be organised.

2.2.

Support for the full implementation of the Convention

2.2.1. Project objective

To assist States Parties in implementing the provisions of the Convention.

2.2.2. Project description

To assist States Parties to the Convention which are in the process of fulfilling their obligations resulting from it.

Technical assistance visits will be organised to States Parties with a view to assessing the national response to the
obligations resulting from the Convention and to providing support
in line with other relevant ongoing
programmes and/or activities, the findings of the Nairobi Summit and the findings of the annual progress reports.

2.2.3. Project results

— Enhanced knowledge of the implementation efforts made at national level which may lead to further action by

the EU,

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— provision of advice and recommendations on technical requirements necessary to fulfil obligations under the

Convention,

— development of relevant national plans in line with obligations under the Convention.

2.2.4. Project beneficiaries

States Parties will be invited to request assistance. A decision will be made on the basis of the degree to which
requesting States Parties have compiled the necessary background information prior to engagement, taken mean-
ingful steps to support a visit by technical experts and shown readiness to make full use of the information
acquired as a result of the exercise.

The selection of beneficiaries will take into account the respecting of the commitments made by potential
beneficiaries in the area of demining and stockpile destruction in the framework of the deadlines established at
the Convention meetings.

The ISU/GICHD will present a final list of beneficiaries which will then be endorsed by the Presidency, assisted by
the SG/HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.

3.

Duration

The total duration for the implementation of this Joint Action is 21 months.

4.

Implementing entity

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, is responsible for the implementation and supervision of this Joint Action.
The Presidency will entrust the technical implementation to ISU/GICHD.

The ISU/GICHD will ensure the visibility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

5.

Reporting

The ISU/GICHD will prepare detailed reports following each of the planned seminars and the technical assistance
visits.