Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2309 of 22 December 2021 on Union outreach activities in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty

1 For the purpose of supporting the effective implementation and universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Union shall undertake activities with the following objectives: (a) reinforcement or development of arms transfer control capacities and expertise for ATT implementation in new and existing beneficiary countries, through instruments such as legal assistance and training of licensing and enforcement officials; (b) outreach to other countries, including non-States Parties to the ATT, with a view to supporting universalisation of the ATT at national, regional and multilateral levels.

2 In order to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 1, the Union shall undertake the following project activities: (a) engagement with the community of experts: such activities will focus on intensifying cooperation with and among experts from the project pool of experts established under Decisions 2013/768/CFSP and (CFSP) 2017/915, as well as with new experts, especially those from beneficiary and former beneficiary countries in the context of the phasing-out process; (b) national activities: national activities will be offered to individual beneficiary countries based on a dedicated assistance programme tailored to the specific needs of the beneficiary country concerned; (c) study visits: study visits provide beneficiary countries with the opportunity to have access to government authorities and officials in other countries that apply the ATT; (d) short-term targeted assistance on specific questions or issues raised by beneficiary countries; (e) train-the-trainer approach, consisting of workshops and an online platform; (f) regional, cross-regional and international activities in response to requests from beneficiary countries that wish to learn from the experience of countries in other parts of the world; (g) side events in the margins of ATT Conferences of States Parties; (h) a closing conference to increase awareness and ownership of the ATT among the partner countries, relevant stakeholders such as national parliaments, regional and international organisations, and civil society representatives. A detailed description of the project activities referred to in this paragraph is set out in the Annex.

1 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

2 The technical implementation of the project activities referred to in Article 1(2) shall be organised by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle – BAFA) and Expertise France.

3 BAFA and Expertise France shall perform their tasks under the responsibility of the High Representative. For that purpose, the High Representative shall enter into the necessary arrangements with BAFA and Expertise France.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project activities referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 3499892,39. The total estimated budget of the overall project shall be EUR 3824892,39. The part of that estimated budget not covered by the reference amount shall be provided through co-financing by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

2 The expenditure financed by the reference amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreements with BAFA and Expertise France. The agreements shall stipulate that BAFA and Expertise France are to ensure the visibility of the Union’s contribution, appropriate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the agreements referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of those agreements.

1 The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the implementing entities. The reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council.

2 The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of the project activities referred to in Article 1(2).

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. It shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the agreements referred to in Article 3(3), or six months after the date of its adoption if those agreements have not been concluded within that period.