Eleventh Annual Pledging Conference - EU Statement - Support to the Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
Eleventh Annual Pledging Conference
Support to the Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
Geneva, 9 March 2026
EU Statemet
Madam President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
First, allow me to commend Zambia's Presidency for supporting our collective efforts in building on the results of the Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. The EU is resolutely engaged and committed to the implementation of the ambitious action plan adopted in Siem Reap-Angkor in November 2024.
The EU welcomes the Eleventh Pledging Conference and continues to strongly encourage all States and donors to support the effective implementation of the Convention in all its aspects through the sustainable financing of humanitarian mine action.
Anti-personnel mine contamination continues to cause harm, instil fear, deny access and impede socio-economic development. Mine action therefore remains key to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access and sustainable development. The overall priority is clear: to ensure protection of civilians, provide assistance to victims, and safely return as much land, as fast as possible, back to civilian use. This is a crucial pre-condition to enable displaced people to return to their homes and for the economic recovery of mine-affected countries.
On 14 April, 2025, the EU reaffirmed its continuous financial support to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Convention by adopting Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/781, allocating 2.7 million EUR to the ISU for four years period from 2025 to 2029 to contribute to the full implementation of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan, including its actions related to clearance of mined areas, survey, mine risk education and victim assistance. This is the fifth consecutive project undertaken by the EU since 2008.
The EU seizes this opportunity to commend the engagement and hard work of the small ISU team, and its exemplary implementation of the EU projects. The EU aims to continue supporting the work of the ISU in the future and encourages all partners and States Parties to continue to do so as well.
The European Union maintains its strong engagement in funding and supporting mine action worldwide and will continue to do so in the future. The EU remains one of the major world donors in mine action, having contributed over 100 million EUR to mine action globally in 2025.
Ukraine, which became the most mine-contaminated country in the world because of Russia’s actions, benefitted 50 million EUR dedicated to building innovative survey capabilities, purchase of clearance machines, direct support to mine clearance and mine clearance governance and training, and to early recovery mechanisms. Since 2022, Ukraine has received 360 million EUR for mine clearance and other mine clearance activities, including 85 million EUR through the rapid response mechanism.
The EU also maintains its engagement in other mine-affected countries. The list of countries having received EU funding for mine action activities is a long one, and spans across all continents and regions of the world. Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are only a few to be mentioned. We sincerely hope that our collective European commitment for mine action in States not Party will bring these States closer to the Convention.
To assist our partners on their path towards achieving the Convention’s objective of a mine-free world, the European Union emphasizes the need to help all countries affected by mine contamination, whether heavily affected or not, as well as those suffering from mine contamination for a long time and being close to complete their demining activities. In this regard, we welcome the efforts to explore the feasibility of a Voluntary Trust Fund within the APMBC to assist countries that are close to finishing their mine clearance obligations under the Convention. Assistance to affected countries to assist victims according to their rights and to meet their needs is equally important.
The EU is committed to mainstreaming a gender perspective into its mine action work. We continue to support the work of stakeholders in mine action to advance gender equality and take into account the diverse needs and experiences of survivors and affected communities into humanitarian mine action policies.
In conclusion, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage all States Parties to contribute to mine action, including to the work of the Implementation Support Unit, which is critical to the functioning of the Convention.
I thank you.
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North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.