Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Fifth Review Conference

Siem Reap, 25-29 November 2024

EU Statement on International Cooperation and Assistance

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania[1], Ukraine and Republic of Moldova as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States are united in the strengthening of cooperation and assistance efforts towards the effective implementation of the Convention. We acknowledge that mine action is central to stabilising and sustaining peace and security. Since anti-personnel mine contamination impedes socio-economic development, mine action is critical to achieving the objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future.

The EU recognises that the success and universalisation of the Convention relies on strong national ownership and international cooperation and assistance. The EU will continue to use all available avenues, at the global, regional, and subregional levels, including through high-level engagement and cooperation and assistance, to promote ratification of and accession to the Convention by States not party. EU assistance covers the whole scope of mine action: clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance, risk education, advocacy and capacity building.

The EU directly supports the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) to assist mine-affected States Parties to set up national dialogues on mine clearance and victim assistance. These dialogues create a platform to strengthen coordination and dialogue with national and international stakeholders on progress, challenges, and support for the implementation of the Convention. The EU has provided continuous financial support to the ISU under Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/257[2] and allocated 2.6 million EUR to the ISU in the period 2021-2025 to contribute to the full implementation of the Oslo Action Plan and its concrete actions. We will continue to provide our support for the implementation of the new Action Plan through the dedicated fund and projects.

In this context, the EU appreciates the excellent implementation by the ISU of the Regional Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Improvised Anti-Personnel Mines under the EU Council Decision. The project, organized in Ghana in February, aimed at galvanising relevant national authorities, public opinion, international and non-governmental organisations to discuss the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines in West Africa and the Sahel region and the need to address this challenge under the Convention’s framework.

The EU encourages parties responsible for the wellbeing of mine-affected communities and survivors to better address the challenges they face through strengthened dialogue and partnerships. In this regard, the EU fully supports the individualised approach format that the Committee implements in order to give a platform for interested affected States Parties to present their specific challenges and needs to relevant stakeholders, including donors and mine action operators.

The EU also recognises that cooperation and assistance should be responsive to gender, age, disability, climate, and environmental considerations, among others. International cooperation and assistance should also take into consideration the diverse needs and experiences of people in affected communities, as well as climate change and environmental protection.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that the EU and its Member States are committed to mine action and will continue to be dedicated to assist our partners in achieving our common goal of a mine-free world. The EU has remained a major donor to mine action in the world having contributed over 174 million EUR since 2023 to humanitarian mine action. We also support innovative approaches in line with the new Action Plan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/ 257 of 18 February 2021 in support of the Oslo Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.