WASHINGTON – The U.S. and EU governments agreed today to work together to stop the spread and misuse of small arms. The joint initiative, adopted at the semi-annual US-EU Summit in Washington Friday, was welcomed by arms control and human rights NGOs as an important first step. But NGOs called on governments to quickly translate these ideals into action.

Joint Statement and Joint Action Plan Must Move Beyond Words
Small arms and light weapons, often ignored in traditional arms control arrangements, still fuel the majority of conflicts around the world. The inter-governmental Joint Statement on Small Arms and the Joint Action Plan are the first joint ventures to stem the flow of these weapons to countries where they may be used to abuse human rights or to fuel civil conflicts. The documents bring the US and EU closer to a harmonized policy of restraint in small arms transfers.

Toward Common Controls on the Small Arms Trade
The US government endorsed the principles of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, a common arms sales restraint regime adopted by the EU last year. Although a welcome sign, the US endorsement applies only to small arms, but should cover all arms transfers. NGOs also insisted that:

• The US implement its laws by cutting off arms to human rights abusers or regional aggressors;

• The EU echo the US Secretary of State's commitment stop arms transfers to conflict regions;

• The US and the EU share information on arms export licence refusals.

Kate Joseph of BASIC said, "The US and the EU account for around 80% of all the world's arms exports. Common efforts like these will go a long way toward keeping small arms out of the wrong hands, but declarations of intent aren't enough."

Common Controls on Arms Brokers
The EU-US Declaration also calls for stronger controls on arms brokering agents. Arms brokers often operate outside the law, and have recently supplied arms for genocide in Rwanda and human rights abuses in Sierra Leone. Although the US has placed tough restrictions on all brokers operating in the US, and all US brokers working overseas, the EU has yet to follow suit. NGOs called on:

• EU Member States to adopt similar laws;

• The US to share information on how the law is working with their European counterparts.

Joint Action on Small Arms
The likely establishment of a transatlantic working group on small arms and light weapons deserves a warm welcome. The working group will improve co-operation between the US and EU, and governments and NGOs in crisis regions. Rachel Stohl of CDI said, "Countries like Sierra Leone need practical help to take these weapons off the streets and out of the hands of abusive forces and child soldiers. Tamar Gabelnick of FAS said, "The US and the EU could start by setting up a dedicated small arms fund for projects on the ground."