Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the entry into force of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War

Press release 460/2006
13 November, 2006

The European Union welcomes the entry into force on 12 November 2006 of Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, annexed to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

In conflict areas, people continue to be killed or injured by unexploded and abandoned explosive ordnance even after the end of hostilities. The Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War addresses the post-conflict humanitarian threat generated by conventional munitions, including cluster munitions, that do not explode as intended or that are abandoned. The Protocol's requirements include the marking, clearance, removal, and destruction of such remnants of war by the party in control of the territory in which the munitions are located.

The Protocol is a multilaterally negotiated instrument of international humanitarian law and relevant for arms control. The European Union calls upon all States to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols, which strengthen international humanitarian law and help to protect civilians against the effects of hostilities.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Country the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.