Tenth Annual Pledging Conference 

Support to the Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Geneva, 12 March 2025

EU Statement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Madam 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 align themselves with this statement.

First, allow me to commend Japan's Presidency for supporting our collective efforts in building on the results of the Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. We also seize this opportunity to thank again Cambodia for hosting and organizing the Summit. Rest reassured of the EU’s continued and resolute engagement to implement the ambitious action plan adopted in Siem Reap-Angkor last November. 

Anti-personnel landmines pose a long-lasting threat to civilians, impede socio-economic development and hinder humanitarian access. Their use anywhere, anytime, and by any actor remains completely unacceptable to the European Union and we are resolved to continue our intense efforts in achieving a mine-free world including through financial assistance.

The EU welcomes the Tenth 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, as well as all efforts leading to its universalisation. The European Union maintains its strong engagement in funding and supporting mine action worldwide and will continue to do so in the future. 

Under Council Decision 2021/257 adopted in February 2021, 2.6 million EUR have been allocated to the implementation of the Oslo Action Plan to promote the universalisation of the Convention and help States Parties to meet their obligations, in particular to implement non-technical surveys, mine clearance and mine risk education, as well as to develop policies to best assist mine victims and affected communities in a non-discriminatory manner addressing their specific needs, including mental health and psychosocial support. The projects under this decision are coming to an end this month.

The EU is resolute in its commitment to supporting the implementation of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan. In the coming months, the EU will adopt a new dedicated fund for the projects to be carried out by the Implementation Support Unit. We are pleased to announce that 2.7 million Euros will be allocated in the next four years to continue promoting the universalisation of the Convention and its full and effective implementation through inclusive processes, in particular national stakeholder dialogues.

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 EU remains the world’s second largest donor in mine action, having contributed over 180 million EUR to humanitarian mine action since 2023. The list of countries having received EU funding for mine action activities is very long, across all continents and regions of the world. Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan (risk education, victim assistance and mine clearance), Colombia (mine clearance and rehabilitation of former combatants), Croatia, Libya, Syria and Ukraine 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.

Ukraine continues to be one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world with over 23 % of its territory at risk of landmines or other explosive ordnance. The fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment estimates the cost for clearance of explosive ordnance at around 29.8 billion USD in the long-term. The sheer size of Ukraine requires an efficient mine action strategy, decisive action and continued international support to help Ukraine in tackling this challenge. Mine action remains key to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The overall priority is clear: to ensure protection of civilians 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 the country. 

The EU will continue to stand by the Ukrainian people to make their land safe again.  We are fully committed to supporting mine action governance reform and enhancing demining efforts, while exploring additional resource allocations in line with Ukraine’s National Mine Action Strategy until 2033. Through sustained engagement and targeted support, the EU aims to contribute to the effective implementation of these efforts, ensuring comprehensive and lasting impact.

Together with its Member States, the EU is providing more than 370 million EUR to support humanitarian demining in Ukraine since 2022. This includes more than 80 million EUR financed through EU rapid response and humanitarian assistance, including support for the Ukrainian government and state operators in implementing the National Mine Action Strategy, assistance to humanitarian actors for mine clearance, non-technical surveys, and mine risk education, as well as the procurement of essential demining equipment and specialized training.

Moreover, an additional crisis response measure of approximately 11 million EUR is being adopted for 2025 to further enhance Mine Action efforts in Ukraine. This funding will further focus on key priorities in line with the Ukrainian National Mine Action Strategy, with the goal of ensuring a targeted and effective response to Ukraine’s most urgent needs while simultaneously strengthening national capacities to implement long-term mine action. 

To achieve the 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.

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 people in affected communities into humanitarian mine action policies.  

Madam President,

Today’s Conference provides us with an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to the comprehensive prohibition of anti-personnel mines, towards the goal of a mine-free world, and to enhance cooperation and assistance for mine action, in particular in the current global context that brings so many new challenges to the Convention. 

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.

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