Virginie Giarmana

1
Mainstreaming SALW in European policies and
debates

• Presented by
• Virginie Giarmana

19 March 2008
2
European framework
European Security Strategy December 2003 5 Key
threats Terrorism State failure Organised
crime WMD 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
EU SALW Strategy
Definition of SALW As set out in the annex to
Council joint action of 12 July 2002 on the EUs
contribution to combating the destabilising
accumulation and spread of SALW
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

• 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

4
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
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
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
Mainstreaming SALW
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

• In EU financial instruments

8
Mainstreaming SALW
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)
In EU financial instruments
9
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
Conclusion and way forward
News from the Court Case? gt 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
THANK YOU
Virginie GiarmanaSaferworld Brussels Office 32
(0)2 230 08 28 vgiarmana_at_saferworld.org.uk