Translation of "Programme de contrôle des armes à feu " (French → English) :

Factsheet - Commission Proposals to strengthen control of firearms: Questions Answers

29. Recalls that Regulation (EU) No 258/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing Article 10 of the UN Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms is intended to ensure effective control of transfers of firearms for civilian use; acknowledges the legitimacy of exports for hunting and sporting weapons for civilian use under that Regulation; welcomes the review of the EU legislation on firearms (including on deactivation, administrative sanctions and signal weapons) and the intention to strengthen police cooperation with nei ...[+++]ghbouring countries on arms smuggling; calls, accordingly, on the Commission to enhance Europol’s capabilities;

In cooperation with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, we have found a solution which allows better controls on firearms throughout the European Union, without neglecting the justified interests of sports marksmen and hunters who are concerned about excessive bureaucracy and excessive registration requirements.

Following the recent tragic shooting in Finland and the attempted shooting at a school in Germany, it is clear that we need stricter EU-wide standards of gun control.

Others highlighted the threat caused by converted and reactivated firearms, pointed out that these weapons are not covered by the current directive, and therefore called for stricter rules, in particular: an indestructible marking of weapons; a ban on geometric marking; strict requirements for qualifications of dealers; a clear definition of brokers; the keeping of digitised data for an unlimited period; guidelines for deactivation of weapons; the incorporation in the directive of the import of weapons into the EU; the limitation to two categories of firearms (prohibited or subject to authorisation); restrictions on how many firearms a single person is allowed to own; and physical inspections i ...[+++]n case of transfer of weapons.

On the first point, I would emphasise the marking system for firearms and their essential parts, not least for purposes of ensuring their traceability, the obligation to retain data for no less than 20 years, more rigorous monitoring of online selling, given the risks this is known to entail, restrictions on the use of firearms by minors and by people thought likely to endanger public safety, and the introduction of general principles on the deactivation of firearms.