EU Presidency Statement - Assistance in Mine Action

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and the EFTA Country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

At the outset, allow me to pay tribute to the courage of de-miners and of all those involved in mine action, whose dedication to the cause of a world free from anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) often exposes them to the most serious dangers. I would also like to commend efforts by the affected communities themselves, the Standing Committees and States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of antipersonnel mines, and on their destruction, the United Nations Mine Action Services (UNMAS) and all relevant UN agencies, the Mine Action Support Group, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and its many affiliated NGO's, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and all other institutions and organisations committed towards the common goal of reducing human suffering and increasing human security.

Mr. President,

We can not ignore that unwavering endeavour aimed at eradicating anti-personnel landmines and UXOs worldwide is still required. Reliable figures indicate that in 2001-2002 landmines casualties were reported in 70 countries around the world. The total number of new victims is estimated between 15 and 20 thousand per year. It is appalling that approximately 70% of reported casualties were civilians, especially women and children, often well after the end of armed conflicts. Furthermore, anti-personnel mines and UXOs have severe economic and social consequences. The mutilation of victims places a heavy burden on afflicted countries already struggling to rebuild their societies and overcome severe financial constraints. Moreover, the situation of refugees being prevented from returning to their homes due to anti-personnel mines is a recurrent challenge. Post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery, social restoration and development are thereby seriously hampered.

This is why support to international mine action ranks today among the political priorities of the European Union. The EU was among the first to condemn the indiscriminate character of anti-personnel landmines, to recognise the unbearable suffering they impose on civilian populations and to take concrete action to curtail it.

While the primary responsibility for the problem of landmines and UXOs in affected countries lies with national authorities, the acquisition of the institutional and technical means needed to tackle it is often hindered by lack of financial resources. The United Nations can contribute to address such a challenge through an integrated approached based on humanitarian assistance and development strategies.

Mr. President,

I would like to commend the Secretary-General's report on assistance in mine action, which represents an important step towards streamlining and enhancing international co-ordination in this specific field. The European Union welcomes the progress indicated in the report and notes with great interest its conclusions and recommendations.

Results achieved in the implementation of the six strategic goals of the 2001-2005 UN Mine Action Strategy are particularly important. Among them, it is worth mentioning: increased data provided through the electronic mine information network; ongoing support for relevant research and development activities; testing of the UN Operational Framework for Rapid Response in Iraq; development of a common format for gathering emergency assessment data on mine and UXO hazards; ongoing efforts to build national and local mine action capacities in over 30 countries; drafting of initial guidelines for transition strategies for UN-supported mine action programmes at the national and local level; agreement to develop guidelines for the integration of a gender perspective into mine action programmes and strengthened management and oversight of International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

It is encouraging to note that the international community agrees on a set of basic principles underpinning mine action programmes, including the need to promote further involvement of mine affected communities when determining mine action priorities, and to integrate mine action into humanitarian and development planning and operations.

The European Union agrees that mine action must be an integral part of the Consolidate Appeal Process, and welcomes the inclusion of mine action requirements in peacekeeping mission planning and structures, as appropriate.

Mr. President,

Besides the indication of progress achieved, the Secretary General's report also points out that further work needs to be done. In that respect, it is important that the UN Mine Action Strategy for the period 2005-2009 be elaborated in 2005.

The European Union is convinced that effective mine action requires, as a necessary pre-condition, a comprehensive and balanced approach combining mine clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance, capacity building and mine risk education. An adequate level of funding to international mine action ought to be maintained over the coming years, especially in those areas, such as victim assistance, that represent a long-term concern for affected countries. In so doing, sustainability and local ownership of humanitarian mine action should be promoted.

Enhanced co-operation among donor and recipient countries remains a key factor for the success of international mine action activities. In this context, I wish to commend the co-ordinating role played by UNMAS, ICRC, GICHD and ICBL.

Mr. President,

The European Union is firmly convinced that the appalling impact of landmines and UXOs on civilian populations needs to be dealt with through an undiminished financial support to mine action and through a consistent political commitment towards the universalisation and full implementation of relevant multilateral framework of humanitarian law.

As far as the first aspect is concerned, the unwavering commitment of the European Union is demonstrated by its constant financial assistance to international mine action. In 2002, overall EU funding - earmarked by Member States and the European Community - amounted to 145 million Euro.

In a broader perspective, it is worth recalling that the European Community pledged 240 million Euro for the period 2002-2009, matching the standards of major donor countries. Following two ad hoc regulations adopted in 2001, the EC Mine Action Strategy and multi-annual programming for 2002-2004, endorsed last year, represents the appropriate mid-term operative framework to co-ordinate and prioritise European-financed projects in this specific field. As already indicated, this effort is complemented by national funding by EU Member States.

In particular, the EC Mine Action Strategy - by focussing on five mutually reinforcing components (advocacy to stigmatise the use of antipersonnel landmines and support for their total ban, mine risk education, mine clearance, victim assistance, stockpile destruction) - is fully coherent with the United Nations Mine Action Strategy.

I wish to reaffirm that the European Union will prioritise its financial aid towards those countries that adhere to the principles and obligations of the Mine Ban Convention. Membership of the Mine Ban Convention and strict compliance with all its provisions remain a crucial element in directing relevant EU funding.

However, the European Union may consider providing financial support also to states not party to the Mine Ban Convention, should humanitarian emergencies arise. As in the past, this support will be contingent upon proven political will by the recipient country to move towards accession to the Convention.

Mr. President,

The European Union will spare no effort in order to promote a universal and full implementation of the Mine Ban Convention. As of today, 141 states have ratified or acceded to the Convention, and an additional 11 states have signed but not yet ratified.

In the framework of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, the European Union will continue to support the adoption of legally binding instruments on Explosive Remnants of War and on Mines Other than Antipersonnel Mines.

Mr. President,

The negative humanitarian impact of landmines on the social and economic fabric of several countries worldwide has been substantially reduced over the last years. Nonetheless, the ongoing widespread suffering of many innocent people clearly show that we are far from being fully satisfied. Therefore, the European Union - which remains on the forefront in the assistance to mine action - is ready to join its efforts with those of the international community in the common endeavour to free the world from the scourge of anti-personnel landmines, UXOs and of their indiscriminate effects.

Thank you.

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• EU Mine Action Strategy: 2002-2004 (4/12/2002)