{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2012-662/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2012-662/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2012/662",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision 2012/662/CFSP of 25 October 2012 in support of activities to reduce the risk of illicit trade in, and excessive accumulation of, Small Arms and Light Weapons in the region covered by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2012-662",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision 2012/662/CFSP\nof 25 October 2012\nin support of activities to reduce the risk of illicit trade in, and excessive accumulation of, Small Arms and Light Weapons in the region covered by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 26(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 15-16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation of and trafficking in small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition (EU SALW Strategy). That Strategy underlined that, in order to minimise the risk posed by the illicit trade in and excessive accumulation of SALW, particular attention should be paid to the enormous accumulations of SALW stockpiled in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and the ways by which they are disseminated in conflict zones.\n(2)\nThe EU SALW Strategy identifies among its objectives the fostering of effective multilateralism so as to forge mechanisms, whether international, regional or within the Union and its Member States, for countering the supply and destabilising spread of SALW and their ammunition. In its Action Plan, the Strategy singles out the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as one of the regional organisations with which cooperation should be developed. In particular it contains dedicated provisions on the support to be provided to the OSCE action to combat the illicit trade in SALW and their ammunition and the destruction of OSCE Participating States' (‘Participating States’) surplus stocks.\n(3)\nOn 24 November 2000, the Participating States adopted the OSCE SALW Document that committed them to establishing and implementing effective national controls on transfers of SALW, including export and brokering controls. That Document also emphasises the destabilising effects that the excessive accumulation of SALW and poor stockpile management and security can have on national, regional and international security. It identifies destruction as the preferred method for the disposal of surplus SALW.\n(4)\nOn 26 May 2010, Participating States adopted the OSCE Plan of Action on SALW, where reference is made, inter alia, to the need to establish or reinforce the legal framework of Participating States for lawful brokering activities, to strengthen commitments on the stockpile management and security of SALW, and to strengthen Participating States’ commitment to destroy surplus and illicit SALW, and means to improve their capacity for the destruction of surplus and illicit SALW.\n(5)\nOn 23 June 2003, the Council adopted Common Position 2003/468/CFSP on the control of arms brokering, requiring Member States to take all necessary measures, including a clear legal framework for lawful brokering activities, to control brokering activities taking place within their territory, and encouraging them to consider controlling brokering activities outside of their territory carried out by brokers of their nationality resident or established in their territory.\n(6)\nOn 8 December 2008, the Council adopted Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment. Common Position 2008/944/CFSP establishes a set of criteria that guide Member States in the assessment of conventional arms export, re-export and brokering applications. It requires Member States to use their best endeavours to encourage other States, which export military technology or equipment, to apply the criteria of that Common Position,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 156, 25.6.2003, p. 79."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2012/662/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:15:19.472501+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}