Rozhodnutí Rady (SZBP) 2016/2356 ze dne 19. prosince 2016 na podporu činností střediska SEESAC zaměřených na odzbrojení a kontrolu zbraní v jihovýchodní Evropě v rámci strategie EU pro boj proti nedovolenému hromadění ručních palných a lehkých zbraní a střeliva pro ně a proti nedovolenému obchodování s nimi

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 26(2) and 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

With a view to the implementation of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition, and to the promotion of peace and security, the SEESAC project on reducing the threat of the illicit spread and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in South-East Europe to be supported by the Union shall have the following specific objectives:

increasing regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and information-sharing with a view to enhancing capacity for evidence-based policymaking;

improving capacity for physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction and training;

enhancing capacity for marking, tracing and record-keeping;

reducing illicit possession and misuse of firearms through support for awareness-raising and collection campaigns.

The Union shall finance the project, a detailed description of which is set out in the Annex.

Council Decision 2002/842/CFSP of 21 October 2002 concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 289, 26.10.2002, p. 1 ).

(1) On 15 and 16 December 2005 , the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (the Strategy), which sets the guidelines for Union action in the field of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The Strategy identifies the Balkans and South-East Europe as regions particularly affected by the excessive accumulation and spread of SALW. It states that the Union will give priority attention to Central and Eastern Europe and underlines, with specific reference to the Balkans, that support for effective multilateralism as well as for relevant regional initiatives is an effective instrument for its implementation. It also specifically promotes the need to participate in the efforts to reduce surplus stocks of SALW left over in Eastern Europe from the Cold War.

(2) At the 2016 6th Preparatory Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects (the Programme of Action), which was adopted on 20 July 2001 , all UN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to prevent the illicit trafficking of SALW. States welcomed the progress made with regard to the strengthening of subregional and regional cooperation and committed to establish or strengthen, where appropriate, such cooperation, coordination and information-sharing mechanisms, including the sharing of best practices, in order to support the implementation of the Programme of Action.

(3) The South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), established in Belgrade in 2002 and functioning under the joint mandate of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Regional Cooperation Council (successor to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe), assists national and regional stakeholders in controlling and reducing the spread and misuse of SALW and ammunition, and thus contributes to enhanced stability, security and development in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe. SEESAC places particular emphasis on the development of regional projects to address the reality of cross-border flows of weapons.

(4) The Union previously supported SEESAC by means of Council Decision 2002/842/CFSPCouncil Decision 2002/842/CFSP of 21 October 2002 concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 289, 26.10.2002, p. 1 ). , extended and amended by Council Decisions 2003/807/CFSPCouncil Decision 2003/807/CFSP of 17 November 2003 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 39 ). and 2004/791/CFSPCouncil Decision 2004/791/CFSP of 22 November 2004 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 348, 24.11.2004, p. 46 ). as well as Council Decision 2010/179/CFSPCouncil Decision 2010/179/CFSP of 11 March 2010 in support of SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (OJ L 80, 26.3.2010, p. 48 ). . The Union also supported SEESAC arms control activities by means of Council Decision 2013/730/CFSPCouncil Decision 2013/730/CFSP of 9 December 2013 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to Combat the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition (OJ L 332, 11.12.2013, p. 19 ). .

(5) The Union wishes to finance a further SEESAC project on reducing the threat of the illicit spread and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in South-East Europe,

The High Representative shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

The technical implementation of the project referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by SEESAC.

SEESAC shall perform its tasks under the responsibility of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC.

Council Decision 2003/807/CFSP of 17 November 2003 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP concerning the implementation of Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 302, 20.11.2003, p. 39 ).

Article 1 Article 1

Article 2 Article 2 1.The High Representative shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision. 2.The technical implementation of the project referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by SEESAC. 3.SEESAC shall perform its tasks under the responsibility of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC.

Article 3 Article 3 1.The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project financed by the Union referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 6508136. The total estimated budget of the overall programme shall be EUR 9142355. The programme shall be co-financed by the Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and the beneficiary. 2.The expenditure financed by the reference amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget. 3.The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC. The agreement shall stipulate that SEESAC has to ensure the visibility of the Union's contribution, appropriate to its size. 4.The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement.

Article 4 Article 4 1.The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular quarterly reports prepared by SEESAC. Those reports shall form the basis of the evaluation carried out by the Council. 2.The Commission shall report on the financial aspects of the project referred to in Article 1.

Article 5 Article 5 1.This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. 2.This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or, if no agreement has been concluded within that period, six months after the date of its entry into force.

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project financed by the Union referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 6508136. The total estimated budget of the overall programme shall be EUR 9142355. The programme shall be co-financed by the Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and the beneficiary.

The expenditure financed by the reference amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.

The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC. The agreement shall stipulate that SEESAC has to ensure the visibility of the Union's contribution, appropriate to its size.

The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement.

Council Decision 2004/791/CFSP of 22 November 2004 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe (OJ L 348, 24.11.2004, p. 46 ).

The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular quarterly reports prepared by SEESAC. Those reports shall form the basis of the evaluation carried out by the Council.

The Commission shall report on the financial aspects of the project referred to in Article 1.

Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP of 11 March 2010 in support of SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (OJ L 80, 26.3.2010, p. 48 ).

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or, if no agreement has been concluded within that period, six months after the date of its entry into force.

Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP of 9 December 2013 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to Combat the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition (OJ L 332, 11.12.2013, p. 19 ).

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: