- As delivered -

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

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^* and Albania^*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

With regard to the consideration of the implementation of the Programme of Action the EU supports the inclusion of the following elements in the outcome document of the Conference.

In the outcome document States should underline their commitment to promote national implementation by means of dedicated interagency coordination bodies, national action plans and strategies, national points of contact, national legislation, including penal clauses, regulations and administrative procedures, and monitoring with regard to the relevant aspects of the SALW life cycle including manufacturing, trade, export control, stockpiling and disposal.

States should confirm their commitment to transparency by sharing national points of contact for the PoA, submitting their biennial reports on the status of PoA and ITI implementation, by including SALW in their reports for the UN Register of Conventional Arms, and by promoting synergies on that matter with other related international instruments such as the Arms Trade Treaty.

Effectively countering illicit SALW requires information exchange between different government agencies at national level, at a regional and at international level. Therefore our outcome document should promote the exchange and use of information, in accordance with national legislation, on seizures of arms and identified patterns of illicit trade, in order to address vulnerabilities and enhance opportunities for investigations and prosecutions. This information exchange should be facilitated by means of web-based databases, with support for the role of Interpol and the UN. In addition thought should be given towards improving the monitoring of day-to-day implementation on a global level.

SALW-control should be promoted in bilateral and interregional security cooperation, including cross-border cooperation and information sharing between law enforcement and customs agencies. Regional and sub-regional organizations have an important role in assisting states in their implementation of the PoA.

We should promote and support the implementation of standards and best practices for the handling and stockpiling of small arms and ammunition, such as the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The application of new technologies should be considered with a view to improved physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM).

Controlling the export and import of arms is an important tool in the fight against illicit SALW. The risk of SALW diversion can significantly be reduced by proper arms export control and risk assessment prior to authorising a transfer. The use of authenticated end-user agreements, as supported by the PoA, should be promoted.

When it becomes harder for criminals to obtain legally manufactured SALW through diversion, the criminal interest for illicitly manufactured firearms will grow. Therefore this conference should address the developments in illicit manufacture and modification of firearms and their components, including by means of craft production, re-activation of improperly deactivated guns and the conversion of blank firers, such as signal and alarm weapons, into real firearms. The outcome document should promote good practices with regards to the fight against illicit manufacture, such as the promotion of standards that make reactivation of SALW very difficult and the prohibition of easily convertible blank firers. The EU has adopted a regional legally binding standard on deactivation. This happened after we found out that differences in legislation on deactivation were abused by traffickers to feed the illicit arms market. The outcome document should call upon all countries to legislate, to implement and to enforce legislation to counter this kind of illicit manufacture and modification. While promoting strict standards for deactivation, the EU unambiguously promotes destruction as the preferred option for the disposal of seized and surplus SALW.

The EU supports the reference to Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS) in the draft outcome document as these weapons pose a very specific risk when diverted into unauthorised hands.

The outcome document should also address the growing importance of internet and online transactions with regard to the illicit trade in SALW and their parts and components.

Finally the outcome document should promote the consideration of an increased role for the UN and regional peacekeeping operations in the area of monitoring and countering illicit SALW, within their mandate and where appropriate. Take account of SALW and ammunition issues in post-conflict reconstruction programmes and Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR) programmes in particular.

We believe that all these efforts would by themselves be beneficial to the implementation of the PoA. We also believe that their value would increase when combined with a more effective way to monitor the day-to-day implementation of the PoA at the national, regional and global level. The EU supports ways to ensure such monitoring is undertaken effectively.

Thank you Mr President.

* The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.