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Division 3.2.2 Project description

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

National assistance programmes will be set up for up to twelve beneficiary countries. In the first two years of implementation of the Decision, no more than ten implementation assistance programmes shall be entered into so that the Union has the possibility of responding to additional requests for assistance put forward at a later stage.

The dedicated assistance programmes should be developed according to the following steps:

  1. (a)

    request for assistance to implement the ATT (made to the implementing agency by the third country). This request should be as substantiated as possible, ideally already identifying which specific areas are targeted to receive assistance. Where relevant, the requesting country should also refer to past and ongoing assistance from other assistance providers and provide information on its national ATT implementation strategy.

  2. (b)

    based on the degree of substantiation of the request and the criteria set out in section 5.1, the High Representative, in liaison with the Council working party on conventional arms exports (COARM) and the implementing agency, will decide on the eligibility of the requesting country.

  3. (c)

    where the assistance request is positively received, an expert assessment visit will be organised by the implementing agency. It should result from close contacts between the implementing agency and the third country seeking assistance, and comprise some of the most relevant experts taken from the pool of experts referred to in section 3.1.

    The expert assessment visit can, where possible, be prepared for using questionnaires and by collecting existing information; it will comprise an initial assessment of the needs and priorities of the country requesting assistance. In particular, it will enable the clarification with the country requesting assistance of what is required effectively to implement the ATT and the comparison of those requirements with the existing arms transfer control resources of the country. This initial expert assessment visit will gather all the relevant domestic agencies and stakeholders and identify motivated and reliable local partners.

  4. (d)

    based on the results of the expert assessment visit, the implementing agency will draft an assistance roadmap. In drafting such an assistance roadmap, the implementing agency will take into account any ATT-related assistance possibly provided by other organisations. Where the country seeking assistance has already developed a national implementation strategy for the ATT, the implementing agency will also ensure that the Union assistance roadmap is consistent with that national implementation strategy.

  5. (e)

    the results of the expert assessment visit and the ensuing draft assistance roadmap will be specifically reported to the Commission within the framework of the usual financial and narrative reporting provided for in Article 3 of this Decision.

  6. (f)

    the draft assistance roadmap will be shared with the beneficiary country with a view to its endorsement. The roadmap will be tailored to the beneficiary country and will identify the priorities for assistance.

  7. (g)

    the roadmap will be implemented with the involvement of relevant experts taken from the pool of experts, and with the involvement of other stakeholders as appropriate.

Depending on the exact needs of the beneficiary country in question, the establishment of the roadmap will be driven by the usual five-pillar approach traditionally used in strategic trade control assistance (legal issues, licensing, customs/enforcement, awareness and sanctions/prosecution). In addition to those five standard areas, reporting and transparency will be granted the utmost attention.

The range of assistance instruments will, in particular, cover legal reviews, training seminars, workshops, study visits, and the use of web-based tools and information sources. Those assistance instruments will be selected by the implementing agency according to the exact needs and priorities identified by the expert assessment visit and according to the agreed roadmap. The assistance instruments selected to appropriately address the assistance request should be clearly indicated and substantiated in the assistance roadmap.