Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2367 of 20 November 2025 on Union support for activities of the ATT Secretariat in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) and Article 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Whereas:

1. The Arms Trade Treaty (the ‘ATT’) was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 2 April 2013 by way of Resolution 67/234 B. The ATT was subsequently opened for signature on 3 June 2013 and entered into force on 24 December 2014. All Member States of the Union are parties to the ATT.

2. The ATT aims to establish the highest possible common international standards to regulate, or improve the regulation of the legal trade in conventional arms and to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion. Key challenges are its effective implementation by States Parties and its universalisation, bearing in mind that regulating international arms trade is by definition a global endeavour. To contribute to addressing those challenges, the Council adopted Decisions 2013/768/CFSP⁽¹⁾, (CFSP) 2017/915⁽²⁾ and (CFSP) 2021/2309⁽³⁾. Those Decisions concern, inter alia, Union outreach activities in support of the implementation of the ATT, thereby enlarging the export control-related assistance portfolio of the Union with activities specific to the ATT.

3. The ATT established a Secretariat to assist the States Parties in its effective implementation (the ‘Secretariat’). The Secretariat is responsible for receiving, making available and distributing the reports mandated by the ATT; for maintaining and making available to States Parties the list of national points of contact; for facilitating the matching of offers of and requests for assistance for ATT implementation and promoting international cooperation as requested; for facilitating the work of the Conference of States Parties, including making arrangements and providing the necessary services for meetings under the ATT, and for performing such other duties as decided by the Conferences of States Parties. The Secretariat also administers the Voluntary Trust Fund established by States Parties under Article 16(3) of the ATT to assist States Parties in its implementation, and the ATT sponsorship programme established to facilitate the participation of States Parties’ representatives in ATT meetings.

4. In the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy of 2016 and in the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence of 2022, the Union commits itself to promoting a rules-based international order with multilateralism as its key principle and with the UN at its core. The Union strongly supports expanded State participation in, and universalisation, full implementation and enforcement of, multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control treaties, including the ATT. In the context of those overarching policy goals, support for the Secretariat would significantly contribute to the specific aim of strengthening the multilateral system underpinning a responsible trade in arms.

5. The Secretariat is well placed to liaise with all multilateral, regional, national and civil society stakeholders executing projects in support of ATT universalisation and implementation. The Union is a longstanding provider of export control assistance in dual-use goods, supporting the development of legal frameworks and institutional capacities for the establishment and enforcement of effective export controls on dual-use and military goods. The Secretariat should ensure that its projects complement existing Union dual-use and arms-export control assistance programmes, such as those provided for in Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2309.

6. The Council adopted Decisions (CFSP) 2021/649⁽⁴⁾ and (CFSP) 2023/2296⁽⁵⁾ in order to provide specific support for capacity building for ATT national points of contact, for the setting up of an expert roster to build the capacity of local and regional ATT experts to provide advice and training on ATT implementation, and for the establishment of a database to match needs and resources for assistance in ATT implementation.

7. Decision (CFSP) 2023/2296 is to expire on 30 November 2025. In view of the persistently difficult financial situation of the ATT as a result of a number of States Parties remaining in arrears with regard to their contributions, the continuation of the support provided for in that Decision is important. Such support should focus on training for national and regional experts who can deliver quality training and implementation assistance for States Parties, including on Voluntary Trust Fund projects, as well as on improving the fulfilment of ATT reporting obligations by States Parties, including through an increased rate of submission of ATT annual and initial reports. In addition, support should be provided for the maintenance by the Secretariat of the database to match needs and resources,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: