Brussels, 18/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission wants to tackle the violence generated by firearms circulating in the EU - firearms which end up on the illegal market. However, the Commission will initially just submit avenues for reflection to the member states, with a view to possible legislation on the issue in the future.
On Monday 21 October, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström will present a communication on the means for the relevant authorities to control the illegal use of firearms better, including arms used illegally by organised crime groups. Without challenging the legal use of firearms - for example, by hunters - the Commission wants to reduce the amount of collateral damage caused by these illegally recovered arms, including homicides and victim intimidation.
The communication will be set out around four priorities: - increasing pressure on criminal markets; - protecting the legal civilian firearms market; - cutting down on firearms being diverted into the hands of criminals; - developing knowledge on these phenomena. It will be necessary to protect the legal market with stricter rules, clearer markings and sales licences detailing the use of the weapon. It will also be necessary to work with countries on stricter storage standards and on the rules for deactivating military and civilian arms, for example. Cross-border cooperation and police training could also be improved. The Commission wants to reduce the “threat to society” that these illegal firearms bring to bear. Many of them come from the Balkans and former Soviet countries. Of the firearms that are held legally, 10-20% end up on the illegal market. According to the Commission, between 2010 and 2011 there was a 40% increase in France in the seizure of stolen arms. The Commission states that although rules already exist, considerable differences remain in the way member states apply these rules - which makes it easier for organised crime groups and people involved in terrorism to exploit the legal loopholes. The Commission points out that 80 million firearms are held legally in the EU. (SP/transl.fl)