European Union
Support for Mine Action
In 2019, the European Union (EU) was the second-largest donor in mine action, contributing almost €68 million (US$76 million) to nine countries as well as global activities in the Middle East and North Africa region.[1]
In August 2017, the Council of the EU adopted a decision in support of the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. As part of the decision, the EU committed to promote universalization efforts and to support efforts to implement victim assistance, mine clearance, and stockpile destruction aspects of the Maputo Action Plan.[2]
In April 2020, as a result of the deteriorating situation due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, it was decided that funds initially allocated to mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018–2019 would be diverted to address COVID-19 and migration issues. As of June 2020, this was the only instance of diversion of EU funding identified. The duration of several projects was also extended to address delays caused by the pandemic.[3]
In 2018, the European Commission decided to restructure its external action funding architecture and elaborate a new instrument to unify all its policies, known as the Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). As of July 2020, the total budget of the NDICI amounted to about €70.8 billion ($81.3 billion) for the period 2021–2027.[4] Once adopted, the NDICI will be the EU’s main financial tool and will integrate many of the instruments used for mine action assistance.[5]
Contributions by recipient: 2019[6]
|
Recipients |
Sector |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
|
Croatia |
Clearance |
24,713,880 |
27,664,717 |
|
Libya |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
15,000,000 |
16,791,000 |
|
Syria |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
14,300,000 |
16,007,420 |
|
Ukraine |
Clearance, risk education, and victim assistance |
5,165,068 |
5,781,777 |
|
Lebanon |
Clearance and risk education |
3,000,000 |
3,358,200 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Clearance |
2,500,000 |
2,798,500 |
|
Afghanistan |
Risk education and victim assistance |
2,322,412 |
2,599,708 |
|
Global (Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen) |
Victim assistance |
438,263 |
490,592 |
|
Myanmar |
Risk education |
255,719 |
286,252 |
|
Iraq |
Clearance and risk education |
230,189 |
257,674 |
|
Total |
67,925,531 |
76,035,840 |
In 2015–2019, the EU has consistently ranked among the top three donors to mine action, with its contribution over the five-year period totaling almost €310 million (more than $350 million). This represents a 19% increase to its total contribution during the previous five-year period from 2010–2014 when it provided €261.5 million, although after conversion into US dollars and as a result of the impact of the variation of exchange rates, this represents an increase of only 5% with $336.6 million provided.
Summary of contributions: 2015–2019[7]
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
Amount (US$) |
% change from previous year (US$) |
|
2019 |
67,925,531 |
76,035,840 |
-30 |
|
2018 |
91,449,318 |
108,065,659 |
+60 |
|
2017 |
59,805,483 |
67,586,176 |
-12 |
|
2016 |
69,441,362 |
76,885,476 |
+227 |
|
2015 |
21,375,639 |
23,497,401 |
-73 |
|
Total |
309,997,333 |
352,070,552 |
N/A |
Note: N/A=not applicable.
[1] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, European External Action Service (EEAS), 30 August 2020.
[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1428, of 4 August 2017, in support of the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction.
[3] Email from Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, EEAS, 11 June 2020; and Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre; “Ten million EUR intended for humanitarian demining projects in BiH diverted to COVID 19 and migration issues,” 10 April 2020.
[4] European Council, Special meeting of the European Council, 17–21 July 2020, Conclusions; EUCO 10/20, p.55. Average exchange rate for July 2020: €1=$1.1488. US Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates – G.5 Monthly,” 3 August 2020.
[5] As of June 2020, the NDICI draft included references to mine action assistance in several components. Email from Frank Meeussen, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control, EEAS, 11 June 2020
[6] Average exchange rate for 2019: €1=US$1.1194. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2020.
[7] See previous Monitor reports.