EU Statement

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW)

18^th Annual Conference of Protocol V of the CCW

Geneva, 11 November 2024

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania[1], Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, as well as the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

I wish to begin by congratulating you, Ambassador Hashim Mostafa, on assuming the Presidency of this Annual Conference of Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War. I assure you of the EU’s full support and cooperation.

The European Union and its Member States remain fully committed to Protocol V, its objectives and its goal of addressing the problem of unexploded and abandoned explosive ordnance and minimising the serious post-conflict impact of ERW on civilians. We also underline the severe negative consequences that explosive remnants of war can have on the environment. The EU would like to express strong support for all efforts to strengthen this important instrument, to promote its universalisation, and to enhance its implementation in order to eradicate the grave threat posed by unexploded and abandoned ordnance. In this context, we call upon all countries that have not yet done so to join this Protocol.

Mr. President,

ERW remain a legacy threat from armed conflict, posing a lasting hazard to civilians long after hostilities cease. ERW significantly delays reconstruction efforts and impede socio-economic development. The high number of casualties reported in more than 30 countries, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Ukraine, Yemen and in the Gaza Strip, is a matter of deep concern. Children, in particular, are vulnerable to the threat of ERW.

ERW are not only a legacy from armed conflicts in the past, but land contamination from the ongoing conflicts continue to pose a serious threat to present and future generations. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is leading to the further contamination of territories with unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war. The EU reiterates the importance to ensure the protection of all civilians at all times in line with International Humanitarian Law.

Russia's unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine is of direct relevance to this Protocol. Russia is using explosive weapons in populated areas, including cluster munitions, to target residential buildings, critical infrastructure, hospitals, and vital power and water supplies, causing unspeakable harm and suffering for civilians. We call on Russia to respect the principles and obligations of IHL, including Protocol V. Russia bears full responsibility for the loss of life, the human suffering and all the indiscriminate destruction it causes in Ukraine.

The European Union firmly stands with Ukraine and reconfirms its unwavering commitment to providing continued robust political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes, including with respect to the clearance of ERW. This includes specific projects on clearing ERW, anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions as well as on victim assistance and rehabilitation. We encourage all other High Contracting Parties in a position to do so, to follow this example as required by this Protocol as well as the relevant articles of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

Mr. President,

Protocol V to the CCW on Explosive Remnants of War provides a platform for victim assistance. Where possible, we support seeking synergies in the implementation of Protocol V with other relevant disarmament instruments, such as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Convention on Cluster Munitions, especially on victim assistance, clearance, and survey.

The European Union reaffirms its commitments to continue to provide sustained and continuous assistance to save lives and to bring tangible benefits for communities in affected areas, creating new opportunities for growth and stability. As long as anti-personnel mines and other explosive remnants of war continue to affect the lives of millions of civilians across the world, the European Union will continue to engage. For the EU, victim assistance remains a core component of its mine and ERW action assistance. We reaffirm that for victim assistance efforts to be sustainable in the long term, they need to be integrated into broader disability policies. Where needed, we must support States to develop policies to best assist mine and ERW victims and survivors in a non-discriminatory and gender-sensitive manner, addressing the specific needs of all.

The EU and its Member States continue to provide significant funding to mine action, especially in the fields of risk education, clearance, stockpile destruction, and victim assistance. The EU and its Member States have remained major donors to mine action in the world with 93.42 million euros allocated since 2022 under the crisis response instruments, and another 8.5 million euros in 2022 and 16 million euros in 2023 under humanitarian aid.

Moreover, the EU attaches the utmost importance to transparency and confidence building in the implementation of Protocol V. We encourage all High Contracting Parties to complete detailed annual reports to promote the work of Protocol V on key issues such as survey, clearance, recording, retention and transmission of information. Timely submission of annual national reports, as well as of updates to them is needed to ensure the effective implementation of Protocol V.

In conclusion, we welcome the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management, a comprehensive framework for safe, secure and sustainable through-life conventional ammunition management; as such a framework can enhance ammunition safety and security and can therefore reduce ERW.

The EU is also fully committed to mainstreaming a gender perspective into all non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control work in line with Resolution 1325 of the Security Council of the United Nations and related resolutions, including through promoting women’s full and equal participation and providing integrated support.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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