18/11/2020 (Agence Europe) – On 18 November, approximately 40 NGOs expressed their concern about the planned European Peace Facility (EPF). The signatories of the joint statement said: “By strengthening security forces and providing them with military equipment in conflict areas, the European Peace Policy’s funding will risk increasing human rights abuses and contribute to further violence and arms proliferation, rather than to protect civilians and search for political solutions”. The NGOs say that if Member States insist on adopting this facility, they must improve the prevention of conflicts and the prevention and mitigation of harm to civilians, exclude the transfer of lethal weapons from the proposal and adopt a due diligence framework to ensure that its activities are conducted in accordance with international law (see EUROPE 12578/20). The statement can be found at: https://bit.ly/epf_ngo_statement_2020 (CG)