Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction

SUMMARY OF:

Joint Action 2008/487/CFSP in support of the universalisation and implementation of the Ottawa Convention

Decision 2012/700/CFSP in support of the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014, adopted by the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention

Decision (CFSP) 2017/1428 in support of the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan for the implementation of the Ottawa Convention

Decision (CFSP) 2021/257 in support of the Oslo Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE JOINT ACTION AND THE DECISION?

The EU joint action aims to support the implementation of the United Nations Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) through certain specific actions. The support of the European Union (EU) for the convention was based on the 2003 EU security strategy (replaced in the meantime by the EU’s global strategy – see summary).
The 2021 decision (Decision (CFSP) 2021/257) supports the Oslo Action Plan for the implementation of the APMBC between 2020 and 2024 and sets out a number of objectives to help achieve this.

KEY POINTS

Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Over 80% of United Nations Member States are states parties, meaning that they have ratified the convention. China, Russia and the United States are not states parties.
All EU Member States are states parties.
States parties agree not to:
- use anti-personnel (AP) mines*;
- develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer AP mines;
- assist, encourage or induce in any way anyone to engage in an activity prohibited by the convention.
States parties must destroy all stockpiles of AP mines within 4 years and clear mined areas under their jurisdiction or control within 10 years.

The EU joint action sets out two objectives:

to promote the convention to those countries that have not yet become parties (known as ‘universalisation’);
to support its full implementation by those countries that have become parties.

To achieve these objectives, the joint action envisages two types of action:

organising seminars on a regional or subregional basis to encourage countries to become parties to the convention;
providing technical advice and assistance visits to countries to help with full implementation.

Action plans and EU engagement

The APMBC is the legal basis which guides states parties’ actions in the international effort to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. Action plans have been set out at regular intervals to support this implementation. The EU has adopted decisions to implement the convention and supports these actions:

Decision 2012/700/CFSP in support of the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014;
Decision (CFSP) 2017/1428 in support of the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan 2014–2019.

Oslo Action Plan

The Oslo Action Plan sets out the actions States Parties will take during the 2020–2024 period.

The plan identifies actions in a number of areas:

best practice for implementing the convention;
universalisation;
stockpile destruction and retention of anti-personnel mines;
survey and clearance of minefields;
mine risk education and reduction;
victim assistance;
international cooperation and assistance;
measures to ensure compliance.

Decision (CFSP) 2021/257 sets out a number of objectives to implement the plan. These include:

promoting universalisation;
supporting the efforts of states parties to implement the victim assistance aspects of the Oslo Action Plan;
supporting survey and clearance and mine risk education and reduction efforts;
encouraging states which retain anti-personnel mines for permitted purposes to increase their reporting capabilities;
demonstrating the continued commitment of the EU and its Member States to the convention.

The decision also sets out a number of projects to help achieve these objectives with a budget of €2.6 million.

FROM WHEN DO THE JOINT ACTION AND DECISION APPLY?

The joint action has applied since 23 June 2008 and the decision since 18 February 2021.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Ottawa Convention: Council addresses the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war – press release (Council of the European Union).

KEY TERMS

Anti-personnel mine. A mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more people.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Joint Action 2008/487/CFSP of 23 June 2008 in support of the universalisation and implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, in the framework of the European Security Strategy (OJ L 165, 26.6.2008, pp. 41–44).

Council Decision 2012/700/CFSP of 13 November 2012 in the framework of the European Security Strategy in support of the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014, adopted by the States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (OJ L 314, 14.11.2012, pp. 40–46).

Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1428 of 4 August 2017 in support of the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (OJ L 204, 5.8.2017, pp. 101–109).

Successive amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2017/1428 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/257 of 18 February 2021 in support of the Oslo Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (OJ L 58, 19.2.2021, pp. 41–50).