Attachment

Article 17(3) of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition provides that the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of a regional economic integration organisation is to contain a declaration specifying the matters governed by the Protocol in respect of which competence has been transferred to the organisation by its Member States which are Parties to the Protocol.

The European Union has exclusive competence over commercial policy. It also has shared competence over rules for the achievement of the internal market, and exclusive competence as regards provisions of the Protocol which may affect or alter the scope of common rules adopted by the Union. The Union has adopted rules as regards in particular the fight against illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, regulating standards and procedures on commercial policy of the Member States concerning in particular record keeping, marking of firearms, deactivation of firearms, requirements for exports, import and transit licensing authorisation systems, strengthening of controls at export points and brokering activities.

The Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition shall apply, with regard to the competences transferred to the Union, to the territories in which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty.

The scope and the exercise of such Union competence are, by their nature, subject to continuous development, and the Union will complete or amend this declaration, if necessary, in accordance with Article 17(3) of the Protocol.