About COST and Action A25
Management Committee
Working Group 1
Working Group 2
Working Group 3
Conferences and Workshops
Forthcoming Activities
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This site is hosted by the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)

Working Group 2:
European small arms transfers

This working group is split into two sub-themes:

1. The modes of operation of arms traffickers:
  • Links between arms trafficking and the trade in conflict goods.
  • The efficacy of multilateral arms embargoes. This sub-theme will focus upon how arms embargoes are being violated, and provide advice on improving enforcement.
  • European legislation, regulations, and law enforcement practices.


    • 2. The government licensed trade in small arms
  • The development of the EU Code of Conduct on arms transfers.
  • The globalisation of the small arms trade and production.


    • Sub-theme two on the licensed trade was given most attention during the first years of the Action. The Management Committee has decided to focus upon sub-theme one on arms trafficking.


    Meetings:

    Oslo    , PRIO / NISAT, 4 June 2004, WG 2 Meeting on European export regulations and transparency
    [Download Oslo meeting minutes here.]

    Utrecht    , Pax Christi Netherlands, 29 June 2004, WG 2 Meeting on trafficking and brokering. [Download Utrecht meeting minutes here.]

    Barcelona    , UAB / ECP, 29 October 2004,  WG 2 Meeting on developing a common understanding of the EU Code of Conduct’s criteria.
    [Download Barcelona meeting minutes here]

    Sofia    , Saferworld/CSD, 5 & 6 October 2005, WG 1 & 2 Meeting on Transparency and Arms Research. [Download Sofia meeting minutes here]

    Stockholm, SIPRI, 23 and 24 November 2006. Working Group 1 and 2 Meeting on 'Why and what transparency on arms?' Meeting outline and draft agenda is available for download here.

    Brussels, 15-16 May, 2007. WG 1 & 2 meeting on links between arms trafficking, and other forms of trafficking. Organised by Bradford University
    Download the letter of invitation here, a draft outline here and the final report here.

    Nicoscia, 28-29 May 2007. WG 2 & 3 meeting on arms flows and conflict; organised by Intercollege and PRIO
    Download the draft outline here, and the letter of invitation here.

    Antwerp , 24-25 September 2007. WG on Improving and developing methodologies for researching illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons; Organised by IPIS. Download the draft outline here, the letter of invitation here and the conference report here.

    Papers presented at the meeting can be downloaded here:
    Mike Bourne - Deep or Broad: Case studies and qualitative research methods
    Dimitar Dimitrov - The relationship between small arms access and development
    Brian Wood - AI Research and Case Study Methods
    David Kisella - Illicit Arms Transfers: Network Data and Analysis
    Hilde Wallacher - Tracking the Guns

    Brussels, 21-2 January 2008. WG 1 & 2 meeting on ammunition.
    Download the meeting documentation here, and here..