16/12/24 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 16 December, the EU Council adopted new rules on the import, export and transit of firearms, revising a 2012 regulation (see EUROPE 13052/10). These rules will strengthen the traceability of firearms for civilian use by harmonising procedures and improving cooperation between national authorities, and will ensure that legally manufactured firearms exported from the EU are not diverted to the illegal market. An EU-wide electronic licensing system will be introduced for manufacturers and sellers. Authorities will have to check the central system, which contains all refusals, before granting an import or export authorisation. Procedures will also be simplified for legitimate purposes such as “exhibitions, (...) hunting [and] sport shooting”. The EU Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement in March (see EUROPE 13371/26). Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/eta (SP)