Commission Decision of 11 April 2013 setting up an expert group on measures against illicit trafficking in firearms to safeguard the EU's internal security ( ‘the Firearms Expert Group’ )

13.4.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 107/4
COMMISSION DECISION
of 11 April 2013
setting up an expert group on measures against illicit trafficking in firearms to safeguard the EU's internal security (‘the Firearms Expert Group’)
2013/C 107/05
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Whereas:
(1) The European Union’s internal security policies have evolved over recent years. The Lisbon Treaty provisions on internal security enabled the development of an Internal Security Strategy based on promoting concerted action to address common security challenges (1).
(2) The Stockholm Programme — An open and secure Europe serving and protecting citizens highlighted trafficking in firearms among the threats to the EU’s internal security (2).
(3) In order to ensure that the Commission is able to call upon the expertise of specialists on matters concerning trafficking in firearms, developments in related security threats and the evolving requirements of competent authorities, it is necessary to set up a group of experts in this field, and to define its tasks and its structure.
(4) The group should help to develop and disseminate guidance on best practice in the area of the fight against the illicit trafficking in firearms at an operational level, and to review the effectiveness of that guidance.
(5) The group should be composed of experts from the internal security field, including producers of firearms and researchers and any other individuals who in the Commission’s view offer valuable expertise which may assist the Commission with possible drafting legislative proposals and policy initiatives to improve measures against this illicit trafficking in firearms to safeguard the EU's internal security.
(6) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be laid down.
(7) Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (3).
(8) It is appropriate to fix a five-year period for the application of this decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,