Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Fifth Review Conference

Siem Reap, 25-29 November 2024

EU statement on Mine Clearance (art. 5)

Mr. 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[1], Ukraine and Republic of Moldova as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

The EU expresses its strong support to the priority given by the Cambodian Presidency to the implementation of article 5 on destruction of anti-personnel mines in contaminated areas. From having been one of the most heavily mine-affected countries in the world, Cambodia has risen to lead global efforts towards a mine-free world. This success is a powerful symbol of your country’s resilience and commitment to humanitarian causes. Now Cambodia shares its vital experience in mine action with other countries, including Ukraine, setting an example for others to follow.

The EU and its Member States have a long history of support for mine clearance and the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, as well as for support to States Parties in their full and effective implementation of the Convention.

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. 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 the use of anti-personnel mines and improvised anti-personnel mines, that makes 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. Any use of anti-personnel mines anywhere, anytime, and by any actor remains completely unacceptable to the EU.

Mr. President,

The EU has continued and will continue, through policy and funding, to support mine clearance activities to help mine-affected States Parties meet their Article 5 obligations under the Convention. The EU and its Member States are major donors for mine action assistance worldwide, supporting universalisation, survey and clearance of mined areas, mine risk education, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, capacity building and research and development in technology for mine detection and clearance. Since the last Review Conference of the Convention in 2019, the EU has remained a major donor to mine action in the world having contributed over 174 million EUR since 2023 to humanitarian mine action, including 97 million EUR specifically for mine clearance.

The EU has also provided continuous financial support to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Convention under Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/257[2]. In this framework, it allocated 2.6 million EUR to the ISU in the period 2021-2025 to contribute to the full implementation of the Oslo Action Plan and its concrete actions. We will continue to provide our support for the implementation of the new Action Plan through the dedicated fund and projects.

Mr. President,

The EU would like to express its strong support towards the States Parties that are making efforts to complete mine clearance operations, to the fullest extent possible by 2025, to bring us closer to the fulfilment of our shared goal of a world free of anti-personnel mines. We reiterate that significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Oslo Action Plan and that those efforts should continue under the new Action Plan, which will guide our work over the next five years.

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 and we reiterate that the increased financial and technical support for mine clearance is needed to help the remaining contaminated States to be declared as mine-free countries. We welcome decisions to be taken at this Review Conference towards strengthening efforts towards Article 5 completion.

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

Mr. President,

The EU will contribute constructively to a successful consensus outcome of the Review Conference and recalls its support and readiness to engage in mine clearance actions, reaffirming the strong commitment to uphold the norm against anti-personnel mines.

Thank you, Mr. President

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

[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/257 of 18 February 2021 in support of the Oslo 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.