EU Statement

Matters pertaining to the Secretariat

Arms Trade Treaty

Tenth Conference of States Parties

Geneva, 19-23 August 2024

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina[1] and Georgia, as well as the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

The EU wishes to express appreciation to the ATT Secretariat for performing its duties, including the Implementation Support Project funded by the EU. We encourage the Conference to endorse the Secretariat’s report and adopt the proposed budget for financial year 2025. As this is the last working cycle and the last CSP session of the present Head of the Secretariat, the EU would like to thank Mr. Dumisani Dladla for dedicated and effective performance of his duties, including the management of the EU-funded support project, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

With regard to the revised ATT Programme of Work, the EU supports the view of the Management Committee that the revised Programme could be fully tested only in the CSP11 working cycle, and CSP11 should have enough data to assess if the revised Programme allows for efficient implementation of multi-year work plans adopted by CSP10. Therefore, the EU supports the recommendation to extend the trial period for one additional year. We are confident that with effective time management by chairs and other measures to maximise efficiency, the changed formula of work will deliver as expected.

We are thankful to the CSP10 President for chairing the Committee, and to the Committee members for their dedicated work during the two-year term.

Lastly, regarding the selection of the new Head of the Secretariat, the EU on behalf of  its Member States expresses appreciation for the effective and efficient work of the Evaluation Committee, and supports the recommendation of the Committee to appoint Mrs. Carina Solmirano to serve as the next Head of the ATT Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.