The Council of the EU adopted, on Friday 16 April, a decision allowing the EU to support three projects of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Secretariat with a contribution of €1.37 million.
“The aim is to help States parties to the Treaty to strengthen their national arms export control systems”, the EU Council said in its statement.
The EU will support the training of local and regional ATT experts to deliver implementation assistance and reduce reliance on external consultants.
A database to match treaty implementation needs and resources will also be created and information and communication mechanisms will be put in place to enable more effective cooperation between States parties’ points of contact and the ATT Secretariat.
The project also strengthens the institutional capacity of the ATT Secretariat to provide sustainable support to States parties to the Treaty.
In force since December 2014, the Arms Trade Treaty, to which all EU Member States are party, regulates the international trade in conventional arms, their components and ammunition, with the aim of eradicating their illicit sale and diversion. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)