Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Intersessional Meeting

Geneva, 17-20 June 2025

EU statement on Mine Clearance (Art. 5)

President,

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

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

President,

The European Union would like to thank the Committee for its work with regard to the implementation of Article 5 and related mine clearance actions of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan. 

The EU and its Member States have a long-standing history of supporting States Parties in their full and effective implementation of the Convention, particularly in mine clearance and stockpile destruction. The EU reaffirms its strong commitment to the implementation of Article 5 and to continue to assist mine-affected States Parties in meeting their obligations under Article 5. Since 2023, the EU has contributed over 180 million EUR to humanitarian mine action, including 97 million EUR for clearance efforts. 

Anti-personnel mine contamination continues to cause harm, instil fear, deny access and impede socio-economic development. The contaminated land cannot be used for agriculture and prevents the return of displaced people, thus prolonging dislocation and negative psychological and economic impacts. The burden placed by anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war on individuals, families, communities, regions and States remains high and unacceptable. The EU strongly condemns Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as its massive use of anti-personnel mines and improvised anti-personnel mines, that renders Ukraine the most mine-contaminated country in the world. We are also deeply concerned about new contaminations in countries such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, as well as in the Sahel. 

President,

On 14 April, 2025, the EU reaffirmed its continuous financial support to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Convention by adopting a Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/781[2], allocating 2.7 million EUR to the ISU for 2025-2029 to contribute to the full implementation of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan 2025-29, including its actions 17 to 29 related to clearance of mined areas, survey and mine risk education. This is the fifth consecutive project undertaken by the EU since 2008. We remain fully committed to supporting the implementation of Article 5 by promoting national ownership and building the capacity of States Parties to respond to both known and newly discovered contamination. Our efforts focus not only on clearance and reporting, but also on ensuring sustainable national capacities, enhancing mine risk education, and encouraging the use of innovative technologies. Through national and regional dialogues, we aim to foster partnerships, increase transparency, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders, in line with the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan. 

 President,

The EU reiterates its strong support towards the States Parties making efforts to complete mine clearance operations towards achieving a world free of anti-personnel mines. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Oslo Action Plan and those efforts should continue under the Action Plan in this current Review Cycle. 

Over the course of the Convention’s history, we have witnessed an increase in repeated extensions, missed deadlines, delayed implementation and non-implementation of commitments. The EU reminds all States that Article 5 deadline extension requests should be considered an exceptional measure, and appeals to them to make every effort to complete their obligations under the Treaty in full and on time. Therefore, we strongly encourage efforts from all concerned States Parties. Increased financial and technical support for mine clearance is needed to help the remaining contaminated States to be declared mine-free. 

Additionally, the EU encourages States Parties reported to be contaminated by anti-personnel mines of an improvised nature to continue building awareness on the need to address this contamination within the framework of the Convention.

President,

The EU will contribute constructively to collective progress under the Convention and recalls its support and readiness to engage in mine clearance action, reaffirming its strong commitment to upholding the norm against anti-personnel mines.

Thank you, President.

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

[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/781 of 14 April 2025 in support of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.