Date of roadmap: 03/2017
Regulation 258/2012 implements Article 10 of the UN Protocol against trafficking of firearms, and establishes export authorisation, and import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. As part of an overall EU policy framework aiming to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute firearms trafficking, the Regulation addresses the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. It applies only to firearms, their parts and essential components and ammunition for civilian use and not to those intended specifically for military purposes. Furthermore, it only addresses trade with and transfers from or to third countries. It does not concern possession, acquisition or transfers within the Union, which is governed by the Firearms Directive (Directive 2008/51/EC of 21 May 2008 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons), which has been recently evaluated (see COM(2015)751 final) and is subject to a proposal for revision.
The purpose of the evaluation of Regulation 258/2012 is to provide the Commission with a qualitative and quantitative analysis of its implementation/application and to make recommendations for possible improvements.
View the roadmap for this initiative
The Roadmap informs stakeholders and citizens about how the Commission has planned and designed this evaluation.
Take part in the consultation activities
View the consultation strategy. The consultation strategy outlines the consultation objectives, maps the relevant stakeholders and explains which consultation methods and tools the European Commission is considering using in the course of the evaluation. Please note that this document is a planning document provided for information only and does not commit the European Commission in any way.
The public consultation took place between 01.03.2017 and 24.05.2017.
View the documents relating to the evaluation
- Terms of Reference
- Submissions as part of the Public Consultation (Excel file)
- Results of the Public Consultation
- Staff Working Document
View the reference documents
- Regulation (EU) No 258/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 implementing Article 10 of the United Nations’ Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UN Firearms Protocol), and establishing export authorisation, and import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and components and ammunition