{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-1424/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-1424/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2017/1424",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 of 4 August 2017 in support of OSCE activities to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Georgia",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2017-1424",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424\nof 4 August 2017\nin support of OSCE activities to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Georgia\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 15 and 16 December 2005, the European Council adopted the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (‘SALW’) and their ammunition (‘EU SALW Strategy’). The EU SALW 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 accumulation of SALW stockpiled in some parts of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and the ways in 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 EU SALW Strategy singles out the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as one of the regional organisations with which cooperation should be developed.\n(3)\nThe EU SALW Strategy 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' surplus stocks. In particular, the Union is participating in the efforts to reduce surplus stocks of SALW and conventional ammunition left over from the Cold War in Eastern Europe through cooperation with the OSCE whose help has been requested by participating States concerned.\n(4)\nIn 2000, the OSCE participating States adopted the OSCE Document on SALW by which they committed themselves to combatting illicit trafficking of SALW in all its aspects. That Document also emphasises the destabilising effects that the excessive accumulation of SALW and its poor stockpile management and security can have on national, regional and international security.\n(5)\nFurthermore, in 2003, the OSCE participating States adopted the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (SCA) recognising thereby the security and safety risks posed by the excessive accumulation of conventional ammunition. In order to address these risks, they decided to establish a practical procedure for the provision of assistance for the destruction of surplus conventional ammunition and/or upgrading stockpile management and security practices.\n(6)\nThe OSCE Documents on SALW and SCA identify destruction as the preferred method for the disposal of surplus SALW and conventional ammunition.\n(7)\nIn 2016, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Georgia addressed the OSCE participating States at the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation with a request for assistance under the OSCE Documents on SALW and SCA in improving the security of SALW and the destruction of conventional ammunition.\n(8)\nThe Union previously supported OSCE activities by means of Council Decision 2012/662/CFSP. The Decision, whose implementation ended in 2015, funded activities such as the destruction of SALW surpluses, improvement of security and management of weapons stockpiles, development of appropriate tools for record keeping of weapons, and enhancement of conventional arms transfer controls;\n(9)\nOn 19 December 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356. The new phase of the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (‘SEESAC’) project will build upon the achievements under Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP while maintaining the holistic approach to tackling the threat posed by SALW in the region. In particular, the project will work to coordinate with initiatives in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia seeking to increase stockpile management capacities of the police,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/904 of 29 June 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 as regards the expiry date for support of OSCE activities relating to the reduction of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Georgia."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "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) (OJ L 297, 26.10.2012, p. 29)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 of 19 December 2016 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (OJ L 348, 21.12.2016, p. 60)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "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)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2017/1424/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:24.083564+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."
}