Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention - Intersessional Meeting - EU Statement on International Cooperation and Assistance

Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Intersessional Meeting

Geneva, 18-20 June 2024

EU Statement on International Cooperation and Assistance

Mr. Chair,

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

The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1] align themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chair,

The EU wishes to thank the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance for its continuous efforts to strengthen the partnerships between States in a position to provide assistance, both financial and technical, and States Parties requiring assistance and to promote dialogue among all stakeholders.

Mine action is critical to the peace and security agenda, humanitarian emergency response and sustainable development, and positively contributes to stabilization and sustaining peace. Mine action is also fundamental for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We emphasize the importance of connecting the Sustainable Developments Goals and development strategies with mine action.

Mr. Chair,

EU assistance covers the whole scope of mine action: clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance, risk education, advocacy and capacity building and is provided in the light of the Oslo Action Plan.

The actions regarding reporting, whether legal obligations, as foreseen in the Convention, politically binding, as decided by the States Parties during Review Conferences, or on a voluntary basis, as encouraged during Meetings of States Parties, should call for more attention. The EU calls for increased reporting as well as for an innovative, coordinated, approach and a comprehensive program aiming at advocating, assisting and promoting this reporting under the mandate of the President. The EU considers that this reporting should include contamination by anti-personnel mines of an improvised nature, as this type of contamination must be also addressed within the framework of the Convention, since some improvised explosive devices fit the definition of an anti-personnel mine as they are “a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons”.

The EU directly supports the Implementation Support Unit by means of EU Council Decision 2021/257/CFSP to assist mine affected States parties to set up national dialogues on mine clearance and victim assistance. In line with Oslo Action Plan, 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. We encourage 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 context, the EU appreciates the excellent implementation by the ISU of the project under the EU Council Decision. Within its scope, the Regional Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Improvised Anti-Personnel Mines within the Framework of the Convention was organized in Ghana in February, which main objective was to galvanise relevant national authorities, public opinion, international and non-governmental organisations to discuss the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines in West Africa and Sahel-region and the need to address this challenge under the Convention’s framework. A side event to share conclusions and recommendations from the Conference will take place on 20 June. The project also sponsored a Dialogue in Zimbabwe to promote support for Zimbabwe’s ambition to achieve its 2025 mine clearance goal, which will be followed by the first ever victim assistance stakeholder dialogue. Moreover, at the end of August, regional victim assistance dialogue will be hosted by Slovenia.

Furthermore, 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.

Mr. Chair,

Assistance and cooperation requires commitments, evidence based national plans and ownership to ensure efficient and effective use of scarce resources. National ownership and evidence based national plans continue to be key factors that facilitate progress in mine action as well as cooperation and assistance from other States. Likewise, robust and continuous in-country conversations amongst stakeholders are an important component in facilitating progress in implementation.

We also recognise that international cooperation and assistance should be gender-, age- and disability-responsive and 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 remain committed to mine action and will continue to be dedicated to assist our partners in achieving our common goal of a mine free world.

Thank you, Mr. Chair

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