European Economic and Social Committee
INT/777
Control of the acquisition
and possession of
weapons
Brussels, 15 January 2016
Information memo
(new referral)
Subject: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council
Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons
Ref.: COM(2015) 750 final – 2015/0269 (COD)
1.
Procedure
European Parliament referral:
Council referral:
…
14 December 2015
Legal basis:
Article 114 TFEU
Committee Bureau decision:
8 December 2015
Section responsible:
Single Market, Production and Consumption
Section president:
Mr Siecker (NL-II)
Organisation of section work:
17 December 2015
Study Group on
Control of the
acquisition and possession
of weapons
President:
Mr Moos (DE-III) (Rule 62 – Mr Maciulevičius)
Rapporteur:
Mr Barros Vale (PT-I)
Members:
Mr Alistar (RO-III)
Mr Dell'Alba (IT-I)
Mr Lemercier (FR-II)
Mr Palmieri (IT-II)
To the members of the
European Economic and Social Committee
INT/777 – EESC-2015-06787-00-00-NINS-TRA (FR) 1/2
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99 — 1040 Brussels — BELGIUM
Tel. +32 25469011 — Fax +32 25134893 — Internet: http://www.eesc.europa.eu
EN
Expert
Ms Moreira Costa (for the rapporteur)
2.
Gist of the Commission document
The security of people and businesses is at the heart of the Commission's current concerns. The use of
firearms by serious organised crime and terrorist groups can inflict serious damage on society.
The recent tragic events have shown that we need to intensify our efforts to tackle firearms
trafficking, with a coherent, coordinated strategy. In his political guidelines, President Juncker also
stressed Europeans' shared responsibility to tackle cross-border crime and terrorism.
The acquisition, possession, import and export of firearms for civil use are subject to a comprehensive
European Union regulatory framework1, set out in Directive 91/477/EEC2, as amended by Directive
2008/51/EC3.
This proposal aims to take immediate steps to bolster existing rules as regards access to firearms and
their trade.
3.
Proposed timetable
DATE
2 February 2016
MEETING
1st study group meeting
26 February 2016
13 April 2016
26 and 27 April 2016
2nd study group meeting
Section meeting
Plenary session
DOCUMENT
Commission document
Working document
Preliminary draft opinion
Draft opinion
Opinion
_____________
1
The current EU legislative framework on firearms stems largely from the United Nations protocol on firearms, which was
negotiated and signed in 2002 by the Commission on behalf of the European Union.
This protocol is an international instrument to which the European Union and its Member States are all party. The Commission
has transposed all provisions contained therein into European law, principally through Directive 2008/51/EC and Regulation
(EU) No 258/2012.
2
3
Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (OJ L 256 of
13.9.1991, p. 51); EESC Opinion: OJ C 35 of 8.2.1988, p.25.
Directive 2008/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008, amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC
on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (OJ L 179, 8.7.2008, pp. 5–11) EESC opinion: OJ C 318 of 23.12.2006,
p. 83.
INT/777 – EESC-2015-06787-00-00-NINS-TRA (FR) 2/2