EUP2P Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Programme

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) came about through a UN resolution adopted in 2006. It aims to establish common international standards on the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 April 2013.

This landmark treaty is the first legally binding instrument aimed at regulating international trade in conventional weapons. It was opened for signature on 3 June 2013 and entered into force on 24 December 2014 after its 50^th ratification.

The purpose of the Arms Trade Treaty is to contribute to peace, security and international and regional stability by regulating international trade in conventional weapons and eradicating the illicit arms trade. To this end, it sets out the highest possible common international standards for international trade in conventional weapons.

To contribute to addressing these challenges, on 16 December 2013, the EU Council adopted Decision 2013/768/CFSP which aims to provide assistance for the control of exports concerning specific activities covered by the ATT.

The EUP2P Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Programme, which targets the control of exports of conventional weapons and related material, was launched in 2014.

The two main objectives of the programme are to support the effective implementation and universalisation of the ATT. These objectives involve activities to:

• Help a certain number of countries strengthen their arms transfer control systems with a view to the effective implementation of the ATT: legislative and regulatory assistance, enhanced training for implementing agents, including those involved in granting licences, inter-agency coordination and reporting exercises, outreach to civil society and private operators (industry)
• Raise awareness among the relevant national and regional authorities and civil society stakeholders and secure their support for the ATT at the national and regional levels 

The EUP2P ATT programme is financed by the European Union and benefits from co-financing from the French Government.

To support the effective implementation and universalisation of the ATT, the European Union has renewed the EUP2P ATT Outreach Programme with a fourth phase, which was launched in March 2025. 

The objectives of this new phase are to:

• Strengthen and develop the capacities and expertise required for the implementation of the ATT in the recipient countries by providing legal assistance and training the officers responsible for licences and enforcement
• Contribute to the universalisation of the treaty by engaging in a dialogue with other countries, including States not party to the ATT

For countries that already participated in the previous phases of the programme, the extensive technical assistance is now moving towards autonomy and independence.

In the context of the implementation of the ATT, the EUP2P programme includes a series of varied, targeted and complementary activities aimed at strengthening national capabilities, fostering international dialogue and promoting the universalisation of the treaty.

A customised technical assistance programme is offered to each recipient country, defined in consultation with the national authorities. These activities are geared towards the specific needs of each country and may include technical workshops, training sessions and expert missions.

A short-term technical assistance mechanism has also been deployed to rapidly address ad hoc requests from partner countries. The aim of this support is to address specific issues outside the scope of the formal workshops. It may be provided remotely or on-site.

To promote the widest possible support for the ATT, awareness-raising activities are carried out among non-party States, the general public and non-State actors.

The programme supports the development of permanent expertise by training trainers, with the aim of empowering national experts. Expert meetings are also organised to discuss this issue and develop harmonised approaches. A dedicated online platform facilitates networking and is helping to build a global community of experts involved in the implementation of the ATT.

In addition, international and regional conferences, along with side events at the annual Conference of States Parties to the ATT, provide spaces for dialogue between the programme partners.