Action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other then developing countries

The committee adopted a report (under the codecision procedure, first reading) by Emma BONINO (TGI, I) amending the Commission proposal for a regulation on action against anti-personnel landmines. The report underlined the scale of the problem and stressed the need to destroy any remaining stocks of anti-personnel mines. It also highlighted the importance of stepping up scientific research with the aim of developing technologies to facilitate mine detection and identify the affected areas more accurately. On the budgetary front, the committee called for EUR 200m to be made available for the period 2000-2006 to finance implementation of the regulation. It stressed, however, that this budget line must not be used to pay for framework programmes for the research and development of mine action technology and demining programmes carried out under the heading of humanitarian action, which would continue to be funded from the budget lines specifically provided for those purposes. The Commission was asked to urge all Member States which had not yet done so to sign and ratify the Ottawa convention on the prohibition and destruction of anti-personnel landmines. In addition, the committee wanted support to be provided for the care and socio-economic reintegration of mine victims. Lastly, it emphasised the role that NGOs could play in programmes to eliminate these mines.�