Towards more responsible arms transfers: the EU and the Arms Trade Treaty
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISIONS?
Council Decision 2013/269/CFSP authorises EU countries to sign the Arms Trade Treaty and Council Decision 2014/165/EU authorises them to ratify it.
KEY POINTS
The aim of the Arms Trade Treaty, which was adopted in 2013, is to contribute to international and regional peace, security and stability by regulating the international trade in conventional arms and eradicating the illicit arms trade.
It does this by establishing the highest possible common international standards for the international trade in conventional arms.
The treaty applies to all conventional arms within the following categories:
The treaty aims at a more responsible regulation of arms trade by requiring:
The treaty can thus prevent arms falling into the wrong hands, thereby reducing human suffering and tangibly contributing to international peace, security and stability.
The EU has adopted an implementation support programme. This provides funding to support countries’ efforts to implement the treaty by strengthening their arms transfer control systems.
The treaty entered into force on 24 December 2014.
FROM WHEN DO THE DECISIONS APPLY?
The Decision 2013/269/CFSP has applied since 31 May 2013. The Directive 2014/165/EU has applied since 5 March 2014.
BACKGROUND
The Arms Trade Treaty is the result of a UN resolution in 2006 and aims to provide common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons. Because certain aspects that it covers fall within EU competence, EU countries required the Council’s authorisation to sign and ratify it — the subject of the 2 decisions covered by this summary.
For more information, see
MAIN DOCUMENT
Council Decision 2013/269/CFSP of 27 May 2013 authorising Member States to sign, in the interests of the European Union, the Arms Trade Treaty (OJ L 155, 7.6.2013, p. 9)
Council Decision 2014/165/EU of 3 March 2014 authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Union, the Arms Trade Treaty (OJ L 89, 25.3.2014, p. 44)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/101 of 22 January 2018 on the promotion of effective arms export controls (OJ L 17, 23.1.2018, pp. 40-47)
Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/915 of 29 May 2017 on Union outreach activities in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (OJ L 139, 30.5.2017, pp. 38-48)
Council Decision 2013/768/CFSP of 16 December 2013 on EU activities in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, in the framework of the European security strategy (OJ L 341 of 18.12.2013, pp. 56-67)
last update 23.07.2018