EU Mine Action Strategy 2002-2004, December 2002

On 3 December 2002 the European Commission adopted the EU Mine Action Strategy for 2002-2004. The latest of the Union's initiatives to combat the problem of landmines, the Strategy includes a Multiannual Indicative Programme which will provide some €105 million over three years.

Anti-personnel landmines are seen as a significant problem by the EU: not only can they cause appalling casualties but, because they are found in many of the poorest parts of the world, where the EU is supporting humanitarian aid and development initiatives, they can impede the Union's activities.

The success of demining activities rests on a number of factors, including:

• political will amongst the international community, backed by appropriate resources

• international cooperation

• establishing effective national capabilities in the countries most seriously affected by mines

• developing safer, faster and cheaper demining technologies

The new Strategy seeks to harness a number of existing EU initiatives and utilise resources in a more integrated way. The Union will support a range of mine action activities, including surveys, mine clearance and assistance to victims, and will help fund economic and social rehabilitation of the de-mined regions and the resettled populations.

EU resources will be used to:

• mobilise rapid mine action to ensure the safe passage and resettlement of displaced populations

• as a tool for post-conflict humanitarian security, reconciliation, and consolidation of peacemaking agreements

• continue to assist the capacity of mine affected countries to face and solve the land mine problems

The Strategy seeks not only to integrate the Union's current activities, but also to complement strategies agreed with third countries and with other beneficiaries and to enable the EU "to better respond to emerging crises and to new humanitarian needs." One aspect of that is the Union's continuing support for the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. The EU will help fund mine clearance and stockpile destruction in countries which have acceded to the Convention.

The European Union has been actively involved in anti-landmine activities for the past decade. Between 1992 and 1998, the EU contributed more than €180m to demining activities, assistance to mine victims, and research and development. (Member States' bilateral programmes also contributed a similar amount over the same period).

More recently, in July 2001 the European Parliament and Council adopted a Regulation intended to "step up and render more effective Community action against anti-personnel mines in developing countries." At the same time they also adopted a Regulation concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other than developing countries.

Within the Joint Research Centre's Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen, the Humanitarian Security Unit is working to develop technologies to improve the speed and safety of demining activities and to reduce costs.

Besides cooperating with Member States' anti-landmine activities, the EU also works with non-governmental organisations and international organisations, including UNMAS, the United Nations Mine Action Service. Formed in October 1997, UNMAS coordinates demining activities within the UN and provides mine action assistance in the context of humanitarian emergencies and peacekeeping operations. The EU has supported Landmine Impact Surveys with UNMAS in six countries, including Afghanistan.

Links:
European Commission:
	04.12.02:	EU Mine Action Strategy 2002-2004 [IP/02/1798]
	EU Mine Action
	Joint Research Centre - Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen - Humanitarian Security Unit
	Bulletin of the European Union - Cooperation in the campaign against anti-personnel land mines
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS):
	Homepage
International Campaign to Ban Landmines:
	Homepage
Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade:
	Implementing the Ottawa Convention

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: Thursday, 5 December 2002

On 3 December 2002 the European Commission adopted the EU Mine Action Strategy for 2002-2004 aimed at combating the problem of anti-personnel landmines.