EU action on cluster bombs?

Can a ban of cluster bombs ever make it to the EU agenda?

The EU will use the review of the conventional weapons treaty convention (CCW) in Geneva to pat itself on the back for supporting a UN protocol regulating the clearance of abandoned and unexploded devices.

Protocol V is designed to address the humanitarian concerns caused by cluster munitions. Its addition to the CCW will improve international cooperation in clean up and de-pollution exercises after war – but crucially the treaty still does nothing to prevent cluster bombs being dropped in the first place.

A statement issued by the Finnish EU presidency at the UN conference in Geneva offered little prospect of the EU endorsing an outright ban.

Instead member states presented a more hazy pledge that Europe “Is guided by its determination to reduce the humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war.”

Last week UN secretary general Kofi Annan said cluster bombs pushed the boundaries of international humanitarian law too far and called for a complete “freeze” on their use.

But ahead of the Geneva summit, Annan was not optimistic that his voice would be heard by key global players. EU officials also conceded that the prospects for a ban following the CCW convention looked bleak.

“Securing a total ban on cluster bombs is long term at best and never never land at worst,” an EU official conceded last month.

“Within the EU we are in a very difficult position because our member states have different views. Some see these weapons as having no use at all whilst others have large stockpiles and also manufacture them. There are two lines of reasoning.”

The UK government has long argued that the weapons play a “legitimate” role and that it would be “unfair” on British forces not to use them when they are used by enemy armies. Paris agreed with London. But a coalition of states lead by Sweden including Austria and Belgium begged to differ - and it appears that their arm twisting has begun to pay off.

The UK signalled it may soon shift its policy in Geneva - and ministers from London agreed to enter discussions on a ban of cluster bombs.

Campaigners breathed a sigh of relief at the unexpected British move and now hope for a domino effect to follow across the rest of the EU.

“But there is no way the US would ban cluster bombs,” a commission official warns. “If you want an international treaty on this, you need all countries on board.” Without the support of Washington, Moscow and Beijing there is no hope for an international ban following the CCW convention.

But behind the scenes diplomacy among EU member states suggests that Europe may now be preparing itself to move outside the UN framework.

For the time being with key global figures unwilling to give up on cluster bombs, Europe’s room for manoeuvre is certainly limited. “The EU is looking for small steps,” one official said.

And the latest signals from London and other EU member states indicate that Europe is preparing to take the next step. MEPs have taken theirs at this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg.

A cross party group of deputies has called on the European commission and member states to explain when the EU will ban this bomb.

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