20/11/2018 (Agence Europe) – On 19 November, the Council adopted a new EU strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition entitled 'Protecting weapons, protecting citizens'. While these weapons fuel armed violence and organized crime, global terrorism and conflict, the Council is committed to preventing and curbing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition and to promoting responsibility and accountability for their legal trade. The new EU strategy, which replaces the 2005 strategy, takes into account the changing security environment, including the terrorist threat within the EU and the evolution of SALW design and technology. The strategy is available at: https://bit.ly/2Fg9eWM. (CG)