Commission welcomes the political agreement on new and stronger rules for the import, export and transit of firearms 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal to update the Regulation on import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use. The agreement delivers on another step in the implementation of both the Security Union Strategy and the 2020-2025 Action plan on firearms trafficking.

Firearms trafficking facilitates terrorism and organised crime, including drug and human trafficking. Over the last years, the risk of illicit trade of firearms has increased. Criminals are constantly changing how they smuggle dangerous weapons into the EU. At the same time, individuals can legitimately possess a firearm for many reasons, such as hunting, sport shooting or collecting.

The lack of harmonised rules across the EU for the legal trade of firearms has created a high administrative burden for firearms holders and the industry, creating difficulties for legitimate ownership and trade. The regulation will improve the traceability of weapons and ensuring proper exchanges of information, enhancing security and combatting firearms trafficking. At the same time, the legal trade of firearms will be simplified.

In particular, the new rules include:

• Clear and common procedures for the import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use, their essential components, ammunitions, deactivated weapons and alarm and signal weapons.   
• Simplified import and export procedures for hunters, sport shooters, historical reenactors and exhibitors. EU residents will not need an import or export authorisation, when in the possession of a European Firearms Pass.  
• A new EU electronic licensing system for firearms owners and dealers to apply for import and export authorisations, replacing the national systems. This new paperless system will save applicants time and simplify the process. The system will be connected to the EU Single Window Environment for Customs. 
• Improved transparency on the import and export of civilian firearms by publishing an annual report containing an overview of the imported and exported firearms put together by the Commission. This information will support evidence-based policy making.  
• Strict application of the technical standards for alarm and signal weapons, which are devices manufactured to only be able to fire blank, tear gas or irritant ammunition. Unified application at import will avoid them being converted into lethal firearms once placed on the internal market.  The Commission will establish a list of non-convertible alarm and signal weapons. 
• Stricter rules on semi-finished firearms components, limiting their import only by licensed dealers and brokers, reducing the threat of home-made firearms without marking or registration (“ghost guns”). 
• A user statement for all firearms. This document will certify that the buyer is the legal recipient and is responsible for maintaining the legal status of the firearm. This will reduce the risk of firearms moving from the legal to the black market during or after export.     
• Strict checks on refusals to grant import or export authorisations, including checks on whether someone applying for an authorisation has already been refused one in another Member State. This will prevent individuals from ‘shopping’ in another EU Member State to obtain such authorisation. 

Next Steps

The Regulation must now be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council before it enters into force, which will happen 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. 

Background

The proposal to update EU rules on the import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use was announced in October 2022 and concerns firearms for civilian use.  

As part of the Security Union Strategy, the Commission adopted the EU Strategy to tackle organised crime and the 2020-2025 Action plan on firearms trafficking. The proposal to update the EU rules on the import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use will ensure consistency between the Firearms Directive and the EU Regulation on import and export of civilian firearms. It will ensure that both texts should regulate the same types of firearms, essential components, and ammunition.  

For More Information

Proposal for a Regulation on import, export and transit measures for firearms, their essential components and ammunition

Trafficking in firearms – European Commission (europa.eu)

Quote(s)

We see, across the EU, that organised criminal gangs, notably drug traffickers, are becoming more and more violent. Half of the homicides in the EU are related to drug trafficking. This agreement today on further regulating import/ export and transit of firearms for civilian use, makes it harder for organised crime to get, traffic or use weapons.

Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs