{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2009/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2009/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2019/2009",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2009 of 2 December 2019 in support of Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives, in cooperation with the OSCE",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2009",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2009\nof 2 December 2019\nin support of Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives, in cooperation with the OSCE\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nOn 19 November 2018, the Council adopted the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms & light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition ‘Securing Arms, Protecting Citizens’ (the ‘EU SALW Strategy’). The purpose of the EU SALW Strategy is to guide integrated, collective and coordinated European action to prevent and curb the illicit acquisition of SALW and their ammunition by terrorists, criminals and other unauthorised actors, and to promote accountability and responsibility with regard to the legal arms trade.\n(2)\nAt regional level, the EU SALW Strategy commits the Union and its Member States to provide assistance in strengthening law enforcement capabilities in order to identify, disrupt and prohibit trafficking networks and prevent firearms from reaching terrorists and criminals via the illicit market, inter alia, by blocking the illicit financing and transport of arms and enhancing the role of border police, customs and port authorities in tackling illicit arms flows by maritime transport.\n(3)\nThe EU SALW Strategy states that the current instability in Eastern Europe has raised the level of illicit trafficking of firearms in various countries in the region, such as Ukraine. This presents a significant long-term security threat to both Ukraine and the Union. Cooperation between the Union and Ukraine on this issue is thus of mutual interest. The Union is pursuing its bilateral engagement with Ukraine and other countries in the region and systematically integrates the fight against illicit SALW into any dialogue on security matters with partner countries in the neighbourhood.\n(4)\nIn May 2016, the State Border Guards Service of Ukraine requested the Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to carry out a needs assessment for combating the illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives in and across Ukraine’s borders. The needs assessment was carried out with support from France and Germany and published in April 2018. The results of the needs assessment were confirmed by the main law-enforcement and security agencies in Ukraine during a high-level meeting organised in Kyiv on 7 June 2018.\n(5)\nThe State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Fiscal Service/State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine have officially, in written form, expressed interest and requested cooperation with the OSCE Secretariat and the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine in supporting Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives in line with the results of the needs assessment.\n(6)\nThe Union’s border control related assistance to Ukraine, such as the Integrated Border Management Strategy supported by the Commission’s European Neighbourhood Instrument and the Union’s civilian Common Security and Defence Policy missions, namely the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) and the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM Moldova and Ukraine), and their support activities for border control do not include support specifically aimed at combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives.\n(7)\nOn 30 June 2018, the third United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action against illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons adopted an outcome document in which States renew their commitment to preventing and combating the diversion of small arms and light weapons. States reaffirmed their willingness to pursue international cooperation and to reinforce regional cooperation through improved coordination, consultation, information exchange and operational cooperation, involving relevant regional and sub-regional organisations, as well as law enforcement, border control and export- and import-licensing authorities.\n(8)\nThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development affirms that combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is necessary for the achievement of many sustainable development goals, including those relating to peace, justice and strong institutions, poverty reduction, economic growth, health, gender equality and safe cities. Therefore, in Sustainable Development Goal 16.4, all States have committed to significantly reducing illicit financial and arms flows.\n(9)\nIn his Agenda for Disarmament ‘Securing our Common Future’, that was presented on 24 May 2018, the UN Secretary-General called for addressing the excessive accumulation of and illicit trade in conventional arms and for supporting country-level approaches on small arms.\n(10)\nOn 25 October 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/662/CFSP 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 OSCE and, on 4 August 2017, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Georgia,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "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) 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Georgia (OJ L 204, 5.8.2017, p. 82)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2019/2009/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:12:29.884966+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."
}