COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2020/2142

of 17 December 2020

amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 in support of combating the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

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

Whereas:

(1) On 19 November 2018, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 (1) in support of combating the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States.

(2) Article 5(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 provides that that Decision is to expire 24 months after the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3) of that Decision.

(3) On 30 October 2020, the Small Arms Survey (SAS), which is the implementing Agency of the project referred to in Article 1 of Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789, requested the authorisation of the Union to extend the implementation period set out in that Decision by six months, thereby bringing the total duration of the implementation period to 30 months. The requested extension is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent postponement of a number of activities provided for by the project.

(4) The requested amendment of Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 concerns Article 5(2) thereof.

(5) The extension of the implementation period set out in Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 by six months can be performed without any financial resource implication,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 5(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 is hereby replaced by the following:

‘2.

This Decision shall expire 30 months after the date of the conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3).’.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 17 December 2020.

For the Council

The President

S. SCHULZE

(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1789 of 19 November 2018 in support of combating the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States (

OJ L 293, 20.11.2018, p. 24

).