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United Kingdom

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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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Whereas:

(1)

The excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW) has fuelled insecurity in south-eastern Europe, exacerbating conflict in the region and undermining post-conflict peace building, thus posing a serious threat to peace and security in the region.

(2)

On 15-16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (EU SALW Strategy) which sets the guidelines for EU action in the field of SALW.

(3)

The EU SALW Strategy identifies among its objectives the fostering of effective multilateralism so as to forge mechanisms, whether international, regional or within the EU and its Member States, for countering the supply and destabilising the spread of SALW and their ammunition. The EU SALW Strategy also identifies the Western Balkans as one of the regions most affected by the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of weapons.

(4)

Under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the former Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (since 2008 known as Regional Cooperation Council), a ‘South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons’ (SEESAC) has been established. SEESAC is located in Belgrade, and consists of a technical support unit, which supports a number of regional and national level operational activities.

(5)

The objectives pursued by SEESAC include preventing the proliferation and excessive accumulation of SALW and their ammunition throughout south-east Europe. SEESAC places particular emphasis on the development of regional projects to address the reality of cross-border flows of weapons.

(6)

The EU previously supported SEESAC by Council Decision 2002/842/CFSP of 21 October 2002, implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP, extended and amended by Council Decisions 2003/807/CFSP of 17 November 2003 and 2004/791/CFSP of 22 November 2004. The implementation of these Decisions has been positively assessed by the Council,

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