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Key developments since May 2001: In 2001, the EU and its Member States contributed €142.5 million ($127.9 million) to mine action, including €28.39 million ($25.5 million) from the EU itself.
The European Union (EU) is a supra-national body to which its Member States have delegated sovereignty in some areas. In other areas, including foreign policy and defense, the EU functions on a largely intergovernmental basis. The Member States make mandatory financial contributions. The EU’s total budget for 2002 is €98.655 billion (US$88.592 billion). From these funds, the EU makes financial contributions in many areas, including mine action. In 2001, the EU contributed mine action funding of €28.39 million ($25.5 million); during the same period, the total mine action funding of the EU and its Member States amounted to €142.5 million ($127.9 million).[1]
Fifteen States are currently members of the EU, including 13 States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), one signatory (Greece) and one State not party to the treaty (Finland). The current EU membership represents a population of 374 million.
By 2004, when the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty takes place, an additional 10 States may be EU members, including four States Parties to the treaty (Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia), three current signatories (Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland) and two States currently not party (Estonia, Latvia). It is expected that accession talks for these countries will be concluded at the end of 2002, with membership by 2004. Two other States, Bulgaria and Romania (both of which are party to the Mine Ban Treaty), are also EU-applicants. One non-party, Turkey, is seeking to start the negotiation process.
In November 1993, the Maastricht Treaty establishing the Union entered into force, incorporating for the first time the objective of a common foreign policy. The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is largely based on intergovernmental positions. All EU activities in relation to the mine ban and mine action are carried out within the CFSP, which shares the same institutions as other Community policies. These include the following:
The European Council brings together the Heads of State or Government of the 15 Member States and the President of the European Commission. It determines the CFSP principles and guidelines, including those with defense implications.
The Council of the European Union is composed of ministerial representatives of each Member State. The Council is responsible for formulating and implementing the CFSP.
The Presidency of the European Union chairs the European Council and other subordinate bodies, and represents the EU in CFSP matters. Each member State takes the Presidency for a six-month period. In the second half of 2001, Belgium held the Presidency, followed by Spain and Denmark in 2002. Because Denmark has opted out of defense matters, Greece is responsible for defense in the latter half of 2002, and Greece will hold the Presidency for the first six months of 2003.
The European Commission is responsible for external economic relations, development cooperation and humanitarian aid, including mine action funding. It ensures consistency of these activities with the CFSP.
The European Parliament is elected every five years by direct universal suffrage. It has final say over the EU budget and adopts resolutions calling on the Commission and the Council to modify existing policies or introduce new ones. As such, it can act as a political driving force.
All EU member States signed the Mine Ban Treaty in December 1997, with the exception of Finland. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom had ratified it by the end of 1998. Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain had ratified the treaty by the end of June 1999.
Greece signed the treaty on 3 December 1997, and, in March 2002, its Parliament voted unanimously in favor of ratification. It is expected to deposit its instrument of ratification at the same time as Turkey accedes. Finland has consistently supported the objective of a global ban on antipersonnel mines and in December 2001 reiterated its goal of acceding to the treaty in 2006. However, Finland’s position as a non-State Party has had an impact. The EU Commissioner for External Relations declared, “I cannot hide this fact: the Union’s powers of persuasion in seeking to achieve [universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty] are obviously somewhat limited by the remaining difficulties of some Member States in signing and ratifying the Convention.”[2]
Accession to the Mine Ban Treaty is not a condition for joining the EU. The Commissioner for External Relations declared that: “We cannot penalise people when they have a lousy government. As for the applicant countries, we would expect them to support the joint action [on landmines] which I have just referred to. This is not Community acquis in the strict legal sense of that term, but we will obviously encourage them to do away with mines in their defence, to stop manufacturing mines or trading in them, and to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty.” [3]
The EU was represented by the European Commission at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in May 1999 and at the Second Meeting of States Parties in September 2000. At the Third Meeting of States Parties in September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua, the EU was represented by Belgium, which held the EU Presidency from July to December 2001. Ambassador Jean Lint, joint head of the Belgian delegation, made a statement on behalf of the EU, referring to the progress made on universalization: “Since September 2000, 13 States have acceded to the Convention, and others have undertaken to do so in the near future. In view of the accession of such a large number of countries, there no room for doubt: an international standard has been established.... However, we must do even better.... The European Union will continue to press for swift worldwide application of the Convention. It has accordingly made more than 60 demarches to that effect.”[4]
He also cautioned: “We have no time to lose. The Convention establishes strict time limits for the destruction of stocks and the clearance of mined areas.... The countries affected should not be left on their own in this fight. The whole international community should contribute to attaining the objectives of the Convention.... The destruction of stocks of anti-personnel mines is crucial in attaining the objective of the total elimination of those weapons, which is the sole guarantee that new minefields cannot be created. It must be possible to achieve destruction as swiftly and economically as possible, with minimal environmental impact... the European Union is involved in the effort to destroy stocks of anti-personnel mines and recognizes the need for greater international assistance in this area.... [and] accordingly calls upon all States Parties to commit additional resources to aid those in need.”[5]
The Belgian Presidency also presented the EU position at the Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II of Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and the Second CCW Review Conference in December 2001. It emphasized “the great complementarity” between the Mine Ban Treaty and Amended Protocol II and pointed out that assistance for mine clearance is discussed in the intersessional meetings of the Mine Ban Treaty, which are open to all States. The statement also expressed the EU position on proposals before the CCW conferences, in favor of extension of the CCW to non-international armed conflicts, a strongly mandated expert group to consider the issue of explosive remnants of war, stricter regulation of mines other than antipersonnel mines, and a light and flexible compliance mechanism.[6]
Spain, holding the Presidency from January to June 2002, represented the EU at the intersessional Standing Committees meetings in January and May 2002. At the meetings in May 2002, Spain confirmed that the EU has supported the setting up of an expert working group on mines other than antipersonnel mines, within the context of the CCW, and the strengthening of CCW restrictions on antivehicle mines.[7]
Responding to a letter from the Belgian Network of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Josep Piqué i Camps, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the EU will continue to include the issue of accession to the Mine Ban Treaty in its political dialogue with the United States and invite it to reconsider its position on the treaty.[8]
The EU has agreements with many countries and raises the mine issue and the Mine Ban Treaty during its dialogues with other countries. For example, Article 11 of the EU-ACP Cotonou partnership agreement on 23 June 2000 states that “particular emphasis shall be given to the fight against antipersonnel landmines.”[9]
The EU responded to the antipersonnel mines challenge through the Community, the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Parliament, with policies in support of mine action, humanitarian assistance, and research. The Council of Ministers has been actively engaged since 1995 through joint actions (unanimous decisions, which are binding on Member States) and resolutions (which represent consensus positions, but have no legal force). In May 1995, the EU issued a moratorium on the export of specified types of antipersonnel mines.[10] In 1996 the moratorium was extended to all types of antipersonnel landmines and to all destinations.[11] The Joint Action of November 1997 extended the previous Joint Action to include all transfers of antipersonnel mine technology, and issued a moratorium on production requiring Member States to take legal measures to ban production of antipersonnel mines.[12]
The European Parliament has acted as a consistent advocate of the mine ban through successive resolutions and questions urging EU institutions to take proactive measures in support. On 29 June 1995 a resolution on antipersonnel mines called for the Council and the Commission to do more to prevent the dissemination of mines, to concentrate more resources on rehabilitation programs, and to expand mine action in affected countries. For example, the partnership between the EU and ACP (Africa, Caribbean & Pacific states) includes a EU Parliamentary Assembly resolution that was adopted on 26 September 1996 called for ACP countries and EU Member States to engage energetically in demining actions, for more research into demining techniques, and for significant progress to be made in achieving a global ban on antipersonnel mines. The European Parliament resolution on antipersonnel mines of 18 December 1997, in addition to encouraging wider adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty and its early ratification, also called for more effective coordination of international efforts in mine clearance and in the rehabilitation of victims.
In 2000, the European Parliament called on Member States and European institutions to reinforce measures in support of the Mine Ban Treaty, including its universalization, increased mine action funding and coordination of mine action. It also called on Council and Member States to “explicitly mention” in their national legislation antivehicle mines with antihandling devices that act like antipersonnel landmines “according to the definition contained in Article 2” of the Mine Ban Treaty.[13]
On 21 September 2000, four parliamentarians and the ICBL organized a conference on landmines at the European Parliament in support of two proposed funding mechanisms and to discuss ways to “improve the co-ordination, coherence, transparency, visibility, accountability, and effectiveness of the [funding] interventions.”[14] The two new mechanisms (termed “Regulations”) were voted on and amended by the European Parliament in October 2000, and by the Commission in January 2001.[15] They were again amended and voted on by the Council of the European Union in May 2001.[16] On 23 July 2001, the Parliament and Council issued the two Regulations.[17] Most of the amendments proposed by the Parliament were included, especially the addition of stockpile destruction as an explicit objective and support for local capacity-building for mine action.[18] Each Regulation states that “operations financed under this Regulation shall in principle benefit those countries which are committed to the fight against anti-personnel landmines and are parties to the Ottawa Convention. Exceptions may be made for humanitarian emergency, for assistance to mine victims, and for actions in direct support of vulnerable civilian communities, such as refugees and displaced persons, or where the national administration is not functioning.”[19]
In September 2001, the European Parliament voted in favor of a resolution calling for support of the efforts made by specialist NGOs to engage non-state actors in the mine ban process.[20] As a follow-up, three parliamentarians promoted an “Information Meeting on Cooperation with Non-State Actors in Banning Anti-Personnel Landmines” on 7 March 2002; guest speakers included representatives from Geneva Call, the ICBL and the European Commission.
On 13 December 2001, the European Parliament called for a moratorium on cluster munitions under the CCW.[21]
In 1996, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament established a specific contribution to mine action, in addition to the mine clearance activities financed in the context of humanitarian aid, reconstruction and development cooperation.[22] A specific antipersonnel mine budget line (B7-661) has allocated funds on a yearly basis. In addition, a range of geographical and thematic budget lines and other financial instruments, such as the European Development Fund, have substantially contributed to mine action funding.
Overall policy coordination for mine action is the responsibility of the External Relations Director-General. An ad hoc Mine Action Coordination Group, made up of EC country desk officers for mine-affected countries and representatives of different Commission units, meets regularly to establish mine action funding priorities.[23] Member States have never coordinated the mine action funding effort. The 2001 Regulations attribute a specific coordination role to the EC in their Article 8: “The Commission shall...facilitate effective coordination of the assistance efforts undertaken by the Community and individual Member States, in order to increase the coherence and complementarity of their programs” and “[t]he Commission shall promote coordination and cooperation with international contributors and actors, in particular those which form part of the United Nations system and with NGOs, as well as with relevant centers such as the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining.”[24]
The 2001 Regulations are the basis for EC mine action and identify the main areas for funding, including supporting civilian mine action strategy, assisting affected countries in their implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, creating and sustaining international structures and local capability for mine action in affected countries, responding to humanitarian emergency, preventing casualties and assisting the rehabilitation of mine victims, encouraging mine action consistent with sustainable development, supporting the introduction and use of appropriate mine action equipment and techniques, and promoting coordination among international mine action actors. The two Regulations also support the destruction of mines in stockpiles.[25]
At the Third Meeting of States Parties, the Belgian Presidency of the EU announced that in 2000 the EU contributed €30 million to mine clearance and victim assistance. This was part of the total €125 million earmarked by the EU and member states for implementation of the treaty “which makes the European Union the world’s largest contributor in this field.” Ambassador Lint added that this represented an increase on EU funding of mine action in 1999, and that the EU’s “minimum objective is to maintain the current level of financial support...that is approximately €240 million between 2002 and 2009, under a single budget heading.”[26]
In 2001, the European Commission contributed a total of €28,390,498 (US$25.5 million) to mine action. This does not include additional mine action funding by individual EU Member States.[27]
According to a draft EC brochure “The European Union Mine Actions in 2001,” mine action funding by the EC, added to mine action funding by individual EU Member States, totaled more than €142.5 million ($127.9 million) in 2001, an increase of 14 percent compared with 2000 (€125 million).[28] Major recipient countries in 2001 included Afghanistan (€22.5 million), Mozambique (€10.2 million), Cambodia (€10.2 million), Bosnia and Herzegovina (€8.9 million) and Eritrea (€8.5 million). A total of 32 countries have received financial support from the EU in previous years.
The overall contribution of €240 million ($215.5) for 2002-2009 was established by the two Regulations issued on 23 July 2001. From this total, €140 million is allocated to the B7-661 budget line (averaging €16 million per year) and €100 million will be distributed through thematic and geographical programs.[29] Funding in 2002 will be allocated according to priorities established by the 2002-2004 Antipersonnel Landmine Strategy Paper (still in the approval process in July 2002). Under B7-661, €11 million ($9.9 million) is pledged for 2002 mine action funding.[30]
In setting the priorities for 2001, the European Commission stated that “in the light of the ‘landmine free world’ goal set by the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty for 2009, all effort shall concentrate on accelerated mine clearance and victim assistance. This means that a substantial part of this horizontal budget line will initially be devoted not only to the very urgent and under-funded mine clearance operations but also to establishment of information, parameters, criteria, working and management methods required to make mine clearance efficient, rational and less expensive.”[31]
Other geographical and horizontal programs and financial instruments allocated funds for mine action in 2001, as follows:
South East Europe. This is an area of high priority for EU mine action programs due to the serious socio-economic and humanitarian disruption it has suffered, and its proximity to the core of Western Europe.[32] The EU initiated, and has supported, the Stability Pact for South East Europe which aims to ensure cooperation among its participants on comprehensive measures for reconstruction and development of the region. EU actions in the framework of the Stability Pact include mine action projects and related research and development.
In 2001, the EU’s CARDS Program (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization) financed mine clearance in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, through budget line B7-541, in support of the EU stabilization and association process.[33]
Africa, Caribbean & Pacific states (ACP). The ACP states are associated with the EU under the 1975 Lomé Convention, and receive financial aid from the European Development Fund (the EDF is not part of the Community budget; member States contribute directly to it). The Commission and each country jointly identify the priorities for EU support.[34] Regarding support for mine action, the European Commission states that “it is indeed desirable to base all APL initiatives on the needs and priorities identified by the mine affected countries themselves and reflected in major EC and EU country strategies.”[35] The 2001 Regulations against antipersonnel mines explicitly state that “Mine action shall be integrated into all country strategies for mine affected developing countries.”[36] In 2001, the EDF financed demining along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border in northeast Zimbabwe, as well as an assessment of the landmine problem in Sudan.[37] Mine action in ACP states can also be supported through the budget line for rehabilitation and reconstruction for developing countries (B7-641), which is part of the Community budget.[38]
Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Thirteen countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) received grant-financed technical assistance under the Tacis Programme that mainly aims at enhancing their transition process.[39] In 2001, Tacis financed a feasibility study for Ukraine’s Mine Action Center.[40] Other budget lines relevant for mine action funding in the region are B7-520 for assistance to partner countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and B7-522: rehabilitation and reconstruction in partner countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.[41]
Mediterranean and Middle East. In 2001, mine action in Lebanon was financed under the budget line B7-431: rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Countries.[42] Other financial instruments that may be used to support mine action in the region include: MEDA Program (B7-410) supporting measures to accompany the reforms to the economic and social structures in the Mediterranean non-member countries, special aid for the implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace accords (B7-420), and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in the North East (B7-421).[43]
Asia and Latin America. In 2001, no Asian or Latin American countries except Afghanistan received mine action funding from the EC. Previously, Cambodia was the second largest recipient of EC mine action funding. Mainly horizontal programs have previously earmarked funds for mine action in these regions. However geographical budget lines may be used to support mine action and victim assistance. For Asia, they include B7-300 for financial and technical cooperation with Asian developing countries; and B7-302: aid to uprooted people in Asian countries, which covers measures to promote the self-sufficiency of refugees, displaced persons and other populations because of fighting, lack of security or other man-made crises.[44] In addition, in the B7-303: rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries in Asia, which covers measures to initiate the return to a normal life of people in the aftermath of a critical situation, financed actions including rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, mine clearance, raising awareness of danger, and assisting the disabled.[45] In Latin America, mine action and victim assistance funding can also be provided under B7-310 for financial and technical cooperation with Latin American developing countries, B7-312: aid to uprooted people in Latin America, and B7-313: rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries in Latin America.[46]
In 2001, two horizontal programs have also provided mine action funding:
ECHO (the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office) provides emergency assistance and relief to the victims of natural disasters or armed conflict outside the European Union. For this purpose it manages a number of budget lines, including B7-201, which has financed mine action in post-conflict and emergency situations. Sources of ECHO funds are the general European Commission budget and the European Development Fund. In 2001, ECHO funded mine action in Afghanistan, mine awareness and minefield marking in Eritrea, and mine awareness in the Russian Federation/North Caucasus.[47]
The Rapid Reaction Mechanism is an instrument designed for urgent intervention in crisis situations. It can be used both to conduct one-off actions arising out a crisis situation and to initiate projects requiring longer term follow-up through other assistance instruments. In 2001, it funded urgent mine/unexploded ordnance clearance in Afghanistan and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.[48]
EU funding policy for mine-related R&D is implemented through multi-annual framework programs. The EU budget for R&D for humanitarian demining under the Fourth Framework Programme (1994–1998) was €17 million ($15.3 million) and €16 million ($14.4 million) under the Fifth Framework Programme (1998–2002). In 2002, the EC launched the sixth program (2002-2006).[49]
The research goal of the European Commission is to boost European industrial and research institutions’ involvement in developing safer, faster and cost-effective tools to help humanitarian demining activities.[50] The R&D activities are twofold: developing survey tools to help map affected areas more accurately, and developing better antipersonnel mine detection tools.[51] The Commission has two separate lines of support: “direct actions” executed by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and “indirect actions” realized as cost-shared action projects financed in the Fifth Framework Programme through the Information Society Technologies program.[52]
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra in Italy has developed expertise in technologies relevant to minefield surveys and mine detection and identification, in particular infrared landmine detection and metal detectors. It supports a range of activities including the Multi-sensor Mine Signature Measurements Campaign, which assists research centers and other organizations in testing mine detection systems, and the ARIS (Action for Research and Information Support in Civilian Demining) network, which is a forum for information exchange between users, researchers, developers and producers of detection devices and systems. The JRC also participates to the Demining Technologies Information Forum which aims to provide a platform for the identification of demining technology gaps, for the synergistic exchange of ideas, for collaborative international program coordination and planning, and for the review of progress in the mine action technology area.[53]
The International Test and Evaluation Programme for Humanitarian Demining (ITEP) was agreed on 17 July 2000 by Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Commission, represented by the Joint Research Centre. ITEP establishes a global network for measuring performance and evaluating the effectiveness and suitability of all forms of equipment, systems, and methods for use in humanitarian demining. In 2001, under EC leadership, members of ITEP from Belgium, Canada and the UK launched the first project: Systematic Inventory of Test & Evaluation (T&E) Activities, Capabilities & Needs in South Eastern Europe (SEE).[54] The aim of this project was to collate information on current projects and capabilities that support demining efforts in the region.
The EC also took the initiative in standardization of humanitarian demining. In August 2000, the EC requested the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to establish standard methodologies in the context of humanitarian demining, including minefield survey, close-in detection and identification of antipersonnel mines, and test and evaluation of tools in support of humanitarian demining. The CEN members, which are the national standardization bodies of the Member States of the EU and European Free Trade Association, plus the Czech Republic and Malta, cooperates with the International Organization for Standardization, the UN Mine Action Service and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining. At the end of 2001 the CEN action plan identified as main fields of work: recognition of the International Mine Action Standards, test and evaluation of metal detectors, characterization of soils and mechanical equipment, training requirements for operators, and protective clothing. CEN promoted two technical meetings on test and evaluation of metal detectors on 3-5 December 2001 and on 8-10 April 2002 at the Joint Research Center.[55]
So-called indirect actions co-financed by the EC in 2001 include eight research projects on sensor development for reduction of mine-suspected areas and mine detection for removal. Two projects (ARC and SMART) are developing area reduction systems using a drone as a platform for sensor. The CLEARFAST project will mount the sensor on a wheeled vehicle to delineate fields by circling from outside the affected area. Four projects are focusing on locator systems developing different sensors. The BIOSENSOR project is developing a biological vapor detector called the artificial dog’s nose which will be able to find small quantities of explosive in mines. The DIAMINE project is developing a plastic detection system, based on the neutron back-scattering technique. The BULRUSH project, based on the concept of acoustic sonar rays, has been developed for mine detection in shallow inland water areas. The DEMAND project is aimed at the enhancement of three existing technologies for multi-sensor landmine detection. Finally, EUDEM2 is aimed at ensuring proper communication between researchers group and operational demining ones.[56]
At a workshop on 18 February 2002, an EC representative identified as promising projects the Novel Ground Penetrating Radar system, improvements to commercial metal detectors, the BIOSENSOR, the artificial dog’s nose, and the two area reduction projects.[57] Constraints on field implementation identified by participants were the large investment needed to turn a prototype into a commercial product, the small size of the market for demining equipment, funding limitations due to rules on free trade competition, and the small size of demining contracts.[58]
In 2002, the Sixth Framework Programme entered into force. According to the Commissioner for Research this provides an opportunity to support R&D for humanitarian mine action: “the problem is complex and success will only be achieved through a combination of competencies and resources available at the national research centres and European industry, through achieving consensus on a common R&D strategy. I think that the objectives and instruments of the European Research Area (ERA) could answer this challenge. The aim of ERA is to create a single market for research, researchers and knowledge, an area in which research and innovation stakeholders, be they individual researchers, universities, research centres or private companies, can define their strategies and operate without constraint at European level.... It seems to me to be important to develop a strategy for research and development for humanitarian mine action technologies, which will allow us to create a critical mass of resources, activities, competencies and expertise.”[59]
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[1] Exchange rate at 29 April 2002 : €1 = US$0.898, used throughout. See later section on Mine Action Funding.
[2] Speech by Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, European Parliament, 25 October 2000.
[3] Ibid. Community acquis, or acquis communautaire, denotes the whole body of principle, policy, laws, practices obligations and objectives that have been agreed within the European Union.
[4] “Speech by the European Union to the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention,” Managua, Nicaragua, 18-21 September 2001 (official English-language version). Ambassador Lint noted that many other countries aligned with the EU statement: “countries of central and eastern Europe...EFTA member countries belonging to the European Economic Area...Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey.”
[5] “Speech by the European Union to the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention,” Managua, Nicaragua, 18-21 September 2001 (official English-language version).
[6] “Intervention de la Belgique au nom de l’Union européenne,” Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II and the Second CCW Review Conference, Geneva, 10-21 December 2001.
[7] Oral remarks to the Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 31 May 2002. Notes taken by Landmine Monitor.
[8] Letter to ICBL Belgian Network from Josep Piqué i Camps, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, 24 May 2002.
[9] EU-ACP Cotonou Partnership Agreement, Article 11, Cotonou, Benin, 23 June 2000.
[10] 95/170/CFSP Council Decision of 12 May 1995 concerning the joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union on anti-personnel mines, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 11511, 22 May 1995.
[11] 96/588/CFSP Joint action of 1 October 1996, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 260, 12 October 1996.
[12] 97/817/CFSP Joint action of 28 November 1997, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 338, 9 December 1997.
[13] B5-0802/2000, European resolution on antipersonnel landmines, 25 0ctober 2000. Resolutions are not legally binding.
[14] “A day for a mine free world,” 21 September 2000, available at: ICBL Archives 2000, www.icbl.org, and COM (2000) 111, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Action Against Anti-Personnel Landmines: Reinforcing the Contribution of the European Union,” Brussels, 14 March 2000.
[15] COM/2000/0880 final -2000/0062/A (COD), “Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation concerning action against anti-personnel landmines,” and COM/2000/0880 final - CNS 2000/0062/B 16 January 2001, and “Amended proposal for a Council Regulation concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other than developing countries,” Official Journal of the European Communities, C120, 24 April 2001.
[16] “Common position adopted by the Council on 31 May 2001 with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in developing countries/in third countries other than developing countries,” Official Journal of the European Communities, C 213, 31 July 2001.
[17] Regulations (EC) No 1724/2001 and (EC) No 1725/2001, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 234, 1 September 2001.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
[20] RSP/2001/2599, Resolution on measures to promote a commitment by non-State actors to a total ban on anti-personnel landmines.
[21] B5-0765, 0775, 0782 and 0789/2001, European Parliament resolution on cluster bombs, 13 December 2001.
[22] 96/588/CFSP Joint Action of 1 October 1996, Official Journal of the European Communities L 260, 12 October 1996.
[23] Interview with Daniela Di Corrado Adreoni, Chief of the Mine Action Coordination Group, European Commission, Brussels, 22 February 2002.
[24] Regulation (EC) No 1724/2001 and (EC) No 1725/2001, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 234, 1 September 2001.
[25] Ibid.
[26] “Speech by the European Union to the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention,” Managua, Nicaragua, 18-21 September 2001 (official English-language version).
[27] “European Community Mine Actions 2001,” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[28] “The European Union Mine Action in the World,” European Commission, draft document received on 1 July 2002.
[29] Regulation (EC) No 1724/2001 and (EC) No 1725/2001, Official Journal of the European Communities L 234, 1 September 2001.
[30] Official Journal of the European Communities L029, 31 January 2002.
[31] “The EU and Anti-Personnel landmines challenge – Programming 2001,” European Commission, available at: europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/mine/intro/prog_2001.htm.
[32] “Mine Action in South East Europe,” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/actions/see/see.html.
[33] “The EU’s relations with South Eastern Europe,” European Commission, available at: europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/see/index.htm, and “European Community Mine Actions 2001,” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[34] Internal Agreement between Representatives of the Governments of Members States on the Financing and Administration of Community Aid 00/770/EC, Official Journal of the European Communities L 317, 15 December 2000.
[35] “The EU and Anti-Personnel landmines challenge – Programming 2001,” European Commission, available at: europa.eu.int/external_relations/mine/intro/prog_2001.htm.
[36] Regulation (EC) No 1724/2001 and (EC) No 1725/2001, Official Journal of the European Communities L 234, 1 September 2001.
[37] “European Community Mine Actions 2001, ” European Commission, available at:
http://eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[38] Email to Handicap International Belgium from Daniela Di Corrado Adreoni, Chief of the Mine Action Coordination Group, European Commission, 25 March 2002.
[39] “EU’s Relations with Eastern Europe & Central Asia,” European Commission, available at: europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/ceeca/tacis/index.htm.
[40] “European Community Mine Actions 2001, ” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[41] Email to Handicap International Belgium from Daniela Di Corrado Adreoni, Chief of the Mine Action Coordination Group, European Commission, 25 March 2002.
[42] “European Community Mine Actions 2001, ” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[43] Email to Handicap International Belgium from Daniela Di Corrado Adreoni, Chief of the Mine Action Coordination Group, European Commission, 25 March 2002.
[44] Ibid.
[45] Ibid., and Official Journal of the European Communities L029, 31 January 2002.
[46] Email to Handicap International Belgium from Daniela Di Corrado Adreoni, Chief of the Mine Action Coordination Group, European Commission, 25 March 2002.
[47] “European Community Mine Actions 2001,” European Commission, available at: eu-mine-action.jrc.cec.eu.int/action/period/2001final.htm.
[48] Ibid.
[49] Russell Gasser, “ITS Research Effort for Humanitarian Demining,” Workshop on the Potential of the European Research Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002.
[50] Regulation (EC) No 1724/2001 and (EC) No 1725/2001, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 234, 1 September 2001.
[51] “Humanitarian Demining Technologies – RTD and Support projects,” Directorate General Information Society, European Commission, August 2001.
[52] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Action Against Anti Personnel Landmines: Reinforcing the Contribution of the European Union, 2000/0062 (COD), Brussels, 14 March 2000, and speech of Philippe Basquin, European Commissioner for Research, Workshop about the Potential of the European Research Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002.
[53] For details see: humanitarian-security.jrc.it and demining.jrc.it.
[54] Al Carruthers and Francois Littman, “Systematic Inventory of Test & Evaluation (T&E) Activities, Capabilities & Needs in South Eastern Europe, final report,” ITEP, 30 November 2001. See also: eu-mine-actions.jrc.cec.eu.int/technology/itep.html.
[55] Jan Van Herp, “CEN and Humanitarian Demining,” Workshop about the Potential of the European Research Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002. See also: humanitarian-security.jrc.it/demining/cw07/index.htm.
[56] “Humanitarian Demining Technologies – RTD and Support projects,” Directorate General Information Society, European Commission, August 2001.
[57] Russell Gasser, Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002.
[58] Russell Gasser, “ITS Research effort for Humanitarian Demining,” Workshop about the Potential of the European Research Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002.
[59] Speech of Philippe Basquin, European Commissioner for Research, Workshop about the Potential of the European Research Area (ERA) for Fielding Humanitarian Demining Systems, Brussels, 18 February 2002.
