The new EU Firearms Regulation aims to minimize the risk of illegal arms trade without negatively impacting the legal trade
The EU Parliament had previously justified the need for a new version of the Firearms Regulation by stating, among other things, that all imports and most exports of firearms for civilian use should be subject to increased monitoring following the updating and greater harmonization of the regulations. The aim is to minimize the risk of illegal trade without having a negative impact on legal trade.
The ELS electronic authorization system at European level
The new regulation also provides for the introduction of a European-wide electronic licensing system (ELS) for arms manufacturers and traders, intended to replace national systems which in some Member States are still partly paper-based. In future, national licensing authorities will have to consult the central system, which will also document all previous refusals, before issuing an arms import or export license. EU member states will have to use ELS or integrate their own digital systems. This should ensure more effective monitoring and better information exchange between authorities. According to the plan, the ELS is to be implemented by the European Commission within two years, while member states have four years to input all relevant data and connect their systems accordingly. Furthermore, the European Parliament negotiators achieved that the EU Commission is obliged to publish an annual report based on national data from Member States, which should include information on the number of import and export licenses issued, their customs value at European level and on the number of wastes and seizures.
The consequences for those traveling with firearms (hunters, sport shooters and collectors)
In addition to the import and export of weapons, the new Firearms Ordinance also regulates the transit of weapons, their essential components and ammunition. This also applies to traveling hunters, sport shooters participating in international competitions, re-enactors and weapons collectors. In principle, the new provisions should lead to simplified procedures for EU citizens traveling to third countries with weapons and/or ammunition. Single authorization is new. But unfortunately, once again the opportunity for simplification was not exploitedto. Indeed, in accordance with the new EU regulations, gun owners will still have to produce:
– Detailed information on the intended exit/border crossing point with the exact date.
– A confirmation or declaration that the owner of the weapon has no criminal record.
– Alternatively, it should be possible to apply for a national import licence.
It is currently difficult to assess how this will affect practice in individual countries during the planned harmonization of national regulations.
Learn more about safe firearms trading from the Council of the European Parliament
