EU P2P Export Control Programme for Arms

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in April 2013 and entered into force on 24 December 2014. Today, 118 States are Party to the Treaty. The ATT is the cornerstone of international efforts to establish common international standards for regulating the trade in conventional arms thereby preventing the diversion of conventional arms to unauthorised end users and contributing to the eradication of the illicit arms trade. In doing so, the Treaty contributes to international and regional peace, security, and stability, while also helping to reduce human suffering.

However, the effective control of arms transfer requires adequate resources. Countries may therefore need legal and/or administrative assistance to ensure the effective implementation of the Treaty.

To support the universalisation and implementation of the ATT, the first EU ATT outreach project (EU ATT OP I) was co-financed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the EU under Council Decision 2013/768/CFSP  of  December 2013.  

BAFA and Expertise France were mandated to implement the second phase of the EU’s activities in support of the implementation of the (ATT), pursuant to the Council Decision  2017/915 /CFSP of May 2017 and they have jointly shared responsibility for the implementation of the project ever since. 

The project is currently in its fourth phase (EU ATT OP IV) and provides assistance, upon request, to a number of non-EU countries in strengthening their arms transfer control systems in line with the requirements of the ATT.

Consistent efforts are also undertaken to engage with countries that are not yet party to the ATT, with a view to promoting the universalisation of the Treaty.

Map showing which states have signed or ratified the Treaty - Wikimedia Commons

EU P2P Conventional Arms Export Control Outreach Project (COARM OP)

The Conventional Arms Export Control Outreach Project (COARM OP) was initiated in 2008, with a primary focus on the EU’s neighbouring countries.

Beneficiary countries have traditionally included the countries of South Eastern Europe as well as the North African, Mediterranean, Eastern European and Caucasian partners covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy. Since 2021, the project has also extended to Central Asia, and since 2023, to Mongolia. 

At the core of the EU’s arms export control outreach activities lies the EU policy in the field of Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control.

The overall objective is to cooperate with non-EU countries in promoting transparent and responsible arms transfers, notably through the application of the criteria and principles set out in the EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, and to provide assistance in the drafting and implementation of legislation aimed at ensuring the effective control of arms exports.

EU conventional arms export control outreach activities initially focused on regional seminars. Over time, these activities were complemented and further developed to include the provision of tailored support to individual partner countries. 

In response to the progress achieved by several long-term partner countries, the fifth phase of the project introduced advanced capacity-building activities aimed at supporting the establishment of sustainable internal knowledge management structures and enabling partner countries to act as knowledge multipliers within their regions and beyond. These activities include train-the-trainer courses, peer-to-peer visits and other specialised trainings. The project also provides dedicated support to EU candidate countries in order to facilitate  their full alignment with the EU Acquis Communautaire, in the field of arms export control.

The German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) is responsible for implementing this project, which is currently in its seventh phase as mandated by Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/208.