EU Statement - Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention - Mine Clearance
Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
22nd Meeting of States Parties
Geneva, 1-5 December 2025
EU Statement on Mine Clearance
Madam President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU).
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Republic of Moldova as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
The European Union would like to thank the Committee for its work regarding the implementation of Article 5 and related mine clearance actions of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan.
The European Union has taken note of the report addressed to all States Parties by the Article 5 Committee on 5 November 2025 and thanks its members for all the work accomplished. The EU notes the difficulties reported in the exchanges with the States submitting deadline extensions requests and renews its encouragements to all States to respect the obligation under the Convention. Repeated delays and difficulties may contribute to discouraging donors.
Additionally, the EU encourages States Parties whose territories are reported to be contaminated by anti-personnel mines of an improvised nature, to continue building awareness on the need to address this contamination within the framework of the Convention.
Madam President,
The EU have a long-standing history of supporting States Parties in their full and effective implementation of the Convention, particularly in mine clearance and stockpile destruction. The EU reaffirms its strong commitment to the implementation of Article 5 and to continue to assist mine-affected States Parties in meeting their obligations under Article 5.
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 the period 2025-2029 to contribute to the full implementation of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan, including its actions 17 to 29 related to clearance of mined areas, survey and mine risk education. This is the fifth consecutive project undertaken by the EU since 2008.
Madam President,
In 2024, the EU has contributed 110 million EUR to mine action globally, including mine clearance.
Ukraine benefitted the largest part, with 50 million EUR dedicated to building survey capabilities, and 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.
Beyond Ukraine, the EU also maintains its engagement in other mine-affected countries. In 2024, Libya has benefitted 1 million EUR for the second phase of an action in support of stabilisation and human security through humanitarian demining. In Afghanistan, the EU has allocated 3.4 million EUR to a humanitarian demining project carried out by HALO Trust. Additionally, Croatia has received 40 million EUR in 2024 for the final phase of demining its forests. Croatia plans to be fully demined by 2026.
In 2024, DG ECHO (the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) funded 13 actions under the sector of mine action, for a total contracted amount of 13.2 million EUR. Mine action interventions were implemented in 8 countries: Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Sudan. Performed activities were in the sub-sectors of mine education and mine risk reduction, victim assistance, humanitarian demining. Among these projects, three were solely mine action interventions, while 10 were multi-sectoral projects combining mine action with other sectors.
The EU further encourages a collective approach and welcomes efforts from all States Parties to increase financial and technical support for mine clearance to help the remaining contaminated States to be declared mine-free.
Madam President,
The EU strongly condemns Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as its massive use of anti-personnel mines and improvised anti-personnel mines, that makes Ukraine the most mine-contaminated country in the world. We are also deeply concerned about contaminations in countries such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, as well as in the Sahel, in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and also Ethiopia.
We remain fully committed to supporting the implementation of Article 5 by promoting national ownership and building the capacity of States Parties to respond to both known and newly discovered contamination. Our efforts focus not only on clearance and reporting, but also on ensuring sustainable national capacities, enhancing mine risk education, and encouraging the use of innovative technologies. Through national and regional dialogues, we aim to foster partnerships, increase transparency, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders, in line with the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan.
The EU reminds all States that Article 5 deadline extension requests should be considered an exceptional measure and appeals to them to make every effort to complete their obligations under the Treaty in full and on time.
Madam President,
The EU will contribute constructively to collective progress under the Convention and recalls its support and readiness to engage in mine clearance activities, reaffirming its strong commitment to upholding the norm against anti-personnel mines.
I thank you, Madam President.