Arms Trade Treaty - EU Statement - Item 4: General Debate

European Union

Arms Trade Treaty

12^th Conference of States Parties, Geneva, 24-28 August 2026

Item 4: General Debate

Madam President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Republic of Moldova, and Georgia, as well as the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

Twelve years after the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, the EU reaffirms its unwavering support for the Treaty and its core objectives: to establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating the trade in conventional arms, to eradicate the illicit trade, and to prevent diversion of arms.

The Treaty, already global, is gradually progressing towards universality, currently uniting 118 States Parties, with many more states indirectly using its standards as points of reference for developing national control systems. Its legally binding character offers both a clear political message and a powerful tool for domestication and cooperation among States Parties. The implementation of the Treaty is a legal obligation, encompassing both the actions taken and their actual effectiveness and results.

The EU supports the ATT remaining fully aware of its Member States' global responsibilities in the arms trade. In 2024 alone, over 31,000 licenses were issued for a combined value of nearly 316 billion euros, with actual exports continually accounting for one-quarter of the global arms trade. EU Member States license their arms exports using, inter alia, legally binding EU common risk assessment criteria and transparent methodologies, with the ATT serving as a centrepiece of both the EU Common Position on arms exports and the national legal frameworks of Member States. The EU continues to exercise and promote transparency in the arms trade, publishing its own annual reports in the spirit of ATT reporting obligations of State Parties. The EU also keeps the ATT high on the political agenda by supporting it in international fora and by encouraging and funding its universalization and implementation through two dedicated assistance programs: EU ATT Outreach and the EU support to the ATT Secretariat.

Madam President,

All States Parties now face the opportunity to generate new momentum to address well-known challenges to the ATT implementation and adherence. We look forward to continuing our work toward the five-year Strategy, and we expect this Conference to endorse the proposed guidance and elements for reflection on the final draft to be negotiated and adopted by States Parties in 2027. The Strategy should not only set realistic goals but help make them achievable through the strengthened commitment of both recipients and donors of assistance, the mobilization of expertise and funding for those who commit, and a shared readiness to accept the associated accountability for progress.

Madam President,

All over the world, ongoing armed conflicts testify to the critical importance of controlling the arms trade and preventing the diversion and misuse of conventional arms. A number of conflicts - including Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, ongoing conflicts and tensions in the Middle East and in Sudan - are fuelled and sustained by illegal transfers of arms, components, and ammunition, including to non-state actors. Post-conflict landscapes further aggravate the risk of diversion, particularly regarding small arms and light weapons. These developments, and the immense human suffering they cause, stand as urgent reminders for all states to fulfil their commitments regarding conventional arms transfers under global instruments. The community of ATT States Parties, bound by our legal obligations, must play a prominent role by leading by example.

Thank you, Madam President.

1. ^

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