By Council Decision 2010/336/CFSP of June 14th on EU activities in support of the Arms Trade Treaty, in the framework of the European Security Strategy, published in the OJEU on July 18th, the Council of the European Union has published the activities planned to support the preparatory process for the Conference on Arms Trade Treaty to be held in 2012. These activities aim to support UN Member States in developing and improving national and regional expertise to implement effective arms export and transfer controls.

On December 12th 2003 the European Council adopted a European Security Strategy that called for an international order based on effective multilateralism. The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations (UN) Charter as the fundamental framework for international relations. Strengthening the UN and equipping it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act effectively, is a priority of the European Union.

After that date, there have been numerous activities undertaken by the United Nations and the European Union with the aim of developing legally binding instruments in accordance with highest possible common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms. Among these activities, in January 2009 the EU published Decision 2009/42/CFSP with the aim of promoting the participation of all stakeholders in the debate on the ATT, integrating national and regional contributions to the international process underway.

On December 2nd 2009 the UN General Assembly adopted by resolution 64/48 entitles “The arms trade treaty” the decision to celebrate the UN Conference on ATT in 2012. In order to ensure that this conference will achieve the greatest possible extent and be able to formulate concrete recommendations on the various components of a future treaty, the EU will support its preparatory process by organizing a set of actions and activities.

EU objectives on the application of the Arms Trade Treaty

According to Council Decision 2010/336/CFSP of June 2010, the European Union's activities for the purpose of supporting the Arms Trade Treaty, will focus on the following objectives:

• To support the preparatory process leading up to the UN Conference on the ATT to ensure that it is as inclusive as possible and able to make concrete recommendations on the elements of the future ATT,
• To support UN Member States in developing and improving national and regional expertise to implement effective arms transfer controls, in order to ensure that the future ATT when coming into force, will be as effective as possible.

With these objectives, the European Union will organize seven regional seminars, one opening ceremony as well as a closing ceremony and no more than three parallel events to disseminate the results of these activities.

The text of the Decision 2010/336/PESC details the structure these seminars will have, the description of activities to be undertaken, the profile of the participants taking part in such activities, as well as their duration and beneficiaries. The technical implementation will be entrusted to UNIDIR (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research), who will perform its task under the responsibility of the HR and will cooperate with  with UNODA and members of the Bureau of the Preparatory  Committees to the UN Conference on an ATT.