EU Statement by Ambassador Mark Gallagher: The Third Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania (North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process), and Republic of Moldova, as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.
We wish to congratulate you on assuming the role of President of the Third Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). We look forward to your stewardship and assure you of our full support and cooperation in advancing this Convention and to achieve a successful and action-oriented outcome.
Mr. President,
The EU reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the humanitarian objectives pursued by the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM): to end the suffering caused by the devastating impacts cluster munitions, as well as other explosive remnants of war, to protect civilians, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The Convention has made and will continue to make an important contribution to alleviating human suffering and the humanitarian impact of these weapons.
The European Union (EU) warmly welcomes that all State Parties with stockpile destruction requirements have completed their full obligations under Article 3, destroying and preventing nearly 1.5 million cluster munitions from being used. Furthermore, the EU praises the record levels of land clearance achieved since the last Review Conference. Almost two thirds of the 18 States Parties with land clearance obligations now fully comply with Article 4 of the Convention.
The current international environment makes this goal no less relevant. The humanitarian consequences of armed conflict remain severe. Civilians continue to bear the greatest burden. Reports of the use of cluster munitions in recent conflicts are deeply concerning, causing unacceptable harm to civilians, including children, and creates long-term contamination that delays recovery and development.
We deplore the growing number of civilian casualties, stressing that even one more casualty of abandoned cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnances (UXO) is one casualty too many. The EU underlines the importance of strong compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law. The protection of civilians must remain at the centre of our efforts.
In this regard, we reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia’s ongoing unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine in blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Moreover, credible reports show that cluster munitions have been used in Ukraine. The continued and documented use of cluster munitions by Russia in Ukraine against the civilian population, including in densely populated urban areas, is particularly alarming, causing unacceptable harm to civilians, including children, creating long-term contamination that delays recovery and development. In rural areas the use of cluster munitions hinders food production and causes environmental risks.
Mr. President,
The Third Review Conference provides an opportunity to take stock of progress and to give further impetus to practical and efficient implementation of the Convention by States Parties. In particular, the opportunity and impetus to review the progress made through the Lausanne Action Plan (LAP) developed during the last Review Conference, showing inter alia improved evidence-based tracking, targeted data use for clearance, and stronger integration of gender and diversity in the CCM framework. This allowed CCM-based action to better target communities harmed or at risk of being harmed by cluster munitions by offering them risk education, and victim assistance. The gendered- and evidence-based data has yielded tailored clearance and destruction of cluster munition remnants and stockpile destruction. We continue to strongly support an inclusive and gender-balanced approach in implementation activities at the national level and in the Convention’s machinery, including its meetings.
We attach particular importance to clearance of contaminated areas, explosive ordnance risk education and victim assistance. These efforts save lives, reduce risks to affected communities and help create the conditions for recovery and development.
Victim assistance is not only a legal obligation, but a moral imperative. Survivors, affected families and communities must remain at the centre of our efforts. We support an integrated, gender-responsive and inclusive approach, with equal access to medical care, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, education, employment and socio-economic inclusion.
We encourage States Parties to integrate these measures into national health, social and development policies in a gender-responsive and inclusive manner. Where possible, we support seeking synergies in the implementation of the CCM with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other relevant disarmament instruments, such as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and CCW Protocol V, especially on victim assistance, clearance, and survey.
Effective implementation also requires close cooperation with affected communities, survivors, mine action operators, international and regional organisations, the United Nations, the ICRC and civil society. Their experience and expertise are indispensable.
In a world evermore afflicted by instability, and geopolitical rivalry, the CCM offers tangible results that contribute to raise humanitarian preventive actions, provide victim assistance and secure the land in UXO-impacted communities and areas. The proposed Vientiane Capital Action Plan (VCAP), serving as the strategic roadmap for advancing the development and implementation of the Convention for the period 2027-2031 should reflect the importance of other international instruments and frameworks, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Women, Peace and Security- (WPS), Youth, Peace and Security- (YPS) and Children in Armed Conflict (CAAC) Agendas, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the CCW Protocol V, to strengthen humanitarian protections, international law and multilateralism.
The EU remains adamant in its backing of Explosive Ordinance Risk Education (EORE) program. Each year, EORE saves countless lives and adopts a proactive approach at mitigating UXO risks, harm and casualties. While not replacing, nor discharging cluster munition clearance and destruction obligations, EORE serves as a vital humanitarian element against UXOs, especially when the concerned terrain or ongoing armed conflicts in affected areas render clearance operations impractical. We therefore continue to encourage all States Parties to mainstream EORE in their national action plans and to ensure that persons or communities in vulnerable situations are reached.
The EU and its Member States remain among the largest donors to mine action. We provide sustained political, financial and technical support for clearance, victim assistance and risk education, including in regions facing severe and protracted contamination. In addition to substantial national contributions by EU Member States, the EU committed over 200 million euro to mine action worldwide in 2025, covering demining, EORE, victim assistance, stockpile destruction and capacity building. We will continue to support practical efforts that reduce the humanitarian impact of explosive remnants of war.
Mr. President,
We also attach importance to the effective functioning of the Convention and its implementation machinery. The financial situation of the Convention remains a concern. Predictable and sustainable financing is essential for the Convention to fulfil its functions and for States Parties to implement their commitments effectively. We encourage all States Parties to meet their financial obligations in full and on time.
The Review Conference should provide focused and practical guidance for the next review cycle. We support an outcome that strengthens implementation, enhances efficiency, promotes effective cooperation and ensures that our collective efforts deliver tangible results for affected populations.
Mr. President,
We welcome and highly appreciate the work and support performed by partners from across the sector including United Nations entities, the Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL CMC), the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), other mine action operators and civil society who are in the front line in ensuring effective implementation of the Convention, through their efforts in clearance, stockpile destruction, risk education, victim assistance and advocacy. We will continue to support States Parties as they revise or develop inclusive national action plans. The European Union will continue to engage constructively with all partners to advance the humanitarian objectives of the Convention. Our political commitments must translate into practical action on the ground.
I thank you, Mr. President.