1. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Presented by Virginie Giarmana 19 March 2008 Mainstreaming SALW in European policies and debates

2. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence European framework European Security Strategy December 2003 5 Key threats TerrorismState failure Organised crimeWMD Regional conflicts « The consequences of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of SALW and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread are central to four of these five challenges » SALW strat. « Our own experience in Europe demonstrates that security can be increased through confidence building and arms control regimes » European SALW Strategy December 2005 EU strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition

3. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence EU SALW Strategy Key points Recognises the role played by accumulation and illicit trafficking of SALW in conflicts and development Africa is mainly affected Control the sources? Preventive action is necessary Means available External Civilian crisis management Military crisis management Various instruments of Union diplomacy Partnerships and cooperation agreements Development and assistance programs Internal Police, border controls European Code of Conduct Definition of SALW As set out in the annex to Council joint action of 12 July 2002 on the EU’s contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of SALW

4. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence EU SALW Strategy The challenge for the EU … is to ensure that its security policy and its development policy are consistent, while fully exploiting the means available to it at multilateral and regional levels … Call for an action plan to (among other things) - Foster effective multilateralism … for countering supply and destabilising spread of SALW and ammunition and strengthen export control policies and activities, - Allow the implementation of measures to address the underlying factors favoring the illegal demand for SALW, - Tackle the fundamental causes of instability, inter alia by pursuing and stepping up its efforts with regards to political conflicts, development aid, poverty eradication and promotion of human rights.

5. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence But… February 2005: the Commission requested the annulment of a Council decision of December 2004 concerning the EU contribution to ECOWAS in the framework of the Moratorium on SALW Main argument on both side: « lack of competence » More than three years later: status quo… Key implication for the future: Who is responsible for SALW issues in the EU? EU Court Case on SALW

6. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Consequences? Gentlemen agreement between the Commission and the Council (2006): Commission will not seek to take measures on SALW until the court case is solved, Almost nothing happened since 2005:  EU Strategy on SALW is frozen on the EC side (even though the EC is identified as an implementer)  No new Council Joint Action SALW cannot be an objective in itself for Community instrument

7. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Mainstreaming SALW… In EU financial instruments… Only one thematic financial instrument refers to SALW = the Instrument for Stability (IfS) Strategy document (2007 – 2011) priority 2: Counteracting global and trans-regional threats « support for multi-purpose actions in the area of law enforcement intelligence networks to address interlinked activities of organised crime, such as trafficking in drugs, human beings and firearms, illegal migration, terrorism and related financial crimes Annual action plan 2007 – 2008, project area 9: Measures against illicit trafficking of firearms and explosive materials « build capacity at different levels in the partner regions and countries, notably in Africa, which is most affected » But LACK OF CLARITY regarding the kind of projects to be financed – no money expected before 2009

8. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Mainstreaming SALW In EU financial instruments… At country level? Country strategy Papers (2007 – 2013) Adopted last year = identify priorities for cooperation and development programs in the five years to come – Impact of the court case = SALW seldom mentioned (if at all). No programs aiming at tackling their spread in any country Priorities have to be agreed upon by EU + aid recipient & SALW very sensitive subject CSP to be revised in 2009 – 2010 (mid term review). Opportunity to raise SALW issues and questions (but requests have to come from the field as well)

9. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Mainstreaming SALW A few successes last year EU- Africa joint strategy “the illicit proliferation, accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, explosive remnants of war … are all major common concerns – Africa and the EU will work together on all these issues and seek to promote … the adoption of multilateral … instruments. Africa – EU partnership on peace and security “enhance capacity building, networking, cooperation and exchange of information on SALW …” Council conclusions on Security and Development & Council conclusions of Fragility No mention of SALW as such but strong emphasis on the linkage between security and development and necessity to adopt conflict sensitive approaches IMPLEMENTATION IS KEY In EU policy documents…

10. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence Conclusion and way forward News from the Court Case? => Implementation of the SALW strategy and design of an action plan Lisbon Treaty and External Action Service?? Implementation of the Instrument for Stability and follow up 2009 programming exercise Mid-term review Country Strategy Papers 2009-2010 = advocacy work at Brussels and country field levels Monitor the implementation: of the EU – Africa strategy and action plans of the Council Conclusions on Security and Development & Situations of fragility

11. Saferworld Working for the prevention of armed violence THANK YOU Virginie Giarmana Saferworld Brussels Office + 32 (0)2 230 08 28 vgiarmana@saferworld.org.uk vgiarmana@saferworld.org.uk