The European Council adopted on January 19th 2009, its Decision 2009/42/CFSP on support for EU activities in order to promote among third countries the process leading towards an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), in the framework of the European Security Strategy.  The overall objective of this Council Decision is to promote the participation of all stakeholders in the discussion on an ATT, integrate national and regional contributions to the international process under way, and to identify the scope and implication of a possible treaty on the trade in arms.

On December, 12th 2003 the European Council adopted a European Security Strategy which called for an international order based on effective multilateralism. The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations Charter as the fundamental framework for international relations, and places as a priority for the European Union to strengthen the United Nations, equipping it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act effectively. Within this framework of cooperation, the European Union and the UN have jointly supported actions such as the organization of workshops against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

In order to  to continue the consideration of a possible Arms Trade Treaty, the United Nations Secretary-General set up a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) of 28 members. The GGE met throughout 2008 and presented its conclusions during the ministerial week of the 63rd General Assembly.

Based on that, the EU should support this process, in order to reinforce the work that has been accomplished to date, by opening the debate to include States not members of the GGE, as well as to other actors such as civil society and industry, to develop the understanding of the issue and to contribute to broadening the recommendations made by the GGE.

Main objectives of the Project

• Increase awareness by national and regional actors, United Nations Member States, civil society and industry, of the current international discussions around an ATT.
• Reinforce the purpose of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on an Arms Trade Treaty and strengthen the United Nations as the only forum that can deliver a truly universal instrument.
• Contribute to the better involvement of all United Nations Member States and regional organisations in the ATT process.
• Encourage the exchange of views between States which are part of the GGE and those which are not part of it.
• Foster debate among United Nations Member States, particularly among those which are not part of the GGE.
• Promote an exchange of views among United Nations Member States, regional organisations, civil society and industry.
• Identify possible elements, the scope and the implications of an ATT.
• Share these debates and views with the whole international community.

In order to accomplish the previous objectives, the project provides for the organisation of a launching event, six regional seminars, a final seminar to present overall results and a side-event. The final seminar will be structured as follows: one-day OSCE countries regional seminar and one-day final seminar.

Regional seminars will be open to representatives from countries in the region where they will be celebrated, regional organizations (inluding NGOs), representatives from local/regional industry, representatives from Unidir ans UNODA, technical experts from MS, as well as representatives from partner organisations which may include among others the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden) or the Foundation for Strategic Research (France).

The side event will be organised in the margins of the 1st Committee (64th session of the UNGA) to present to stakeholders gathered in New York with the results of the project to date.

Beneficiaries, Budget and Duration for the ATT project

The beneficiaries of this project are all UN Member States, with particular emphasis on those not part of the GGE; civil society and industry; as well as relevant regional organisations.

The estimated implementation period of this project, which will involve a total cost of 836.260€, is 15 months.

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, is responsible for the implementation and supervision of this project. The Presidency will entrust the technical implementation to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (Unidir).