European Commission
Support for Mine Action
In 2010, the mine action contribution from the European Commission (EC) totaled €37,533,764 ($49,773,525) to six countries and one area.[1] Its largest contribution, €20,000,000 ($26,522,000), went to Angola for clearance. It also made contributions of over $5 million to two countries: €7,000,100 ($9,282,833) to Lebanon for clearance and capacity-building to the Lebanon Mine Action Center, and €5,000,000 ($6,630,500) to Ethiopia for clearance.
The EC provided support via seven organizations, and one trust fund—the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action (UNVTF).[2]
Contributions by recipient: 2010
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount |
Amount |
Angola |
Clearance |
20,000,000 |
26,522,000 |
Lebanon |
Clearance |
7,000,100 |
9,282,833 |
Ethiopia |
Clearance |
5,000,000 |
6,630,500 |
Sri Lanka |
Clearance |
2,480,000 |
3,288,728 |
Pakistan |
Risk education |
1,700,000 |
2,254,370 |
Occupied Palestinian Territories |
Clearance |
703,664 |
933,129 |
Sudan |
Clearance; risk education |
650,000 |
861,965 |
Total |
|
37,533,764 |
49,773,525 |
The EC allocated the vast majority (95%) of its mine action support in 2010 for clearance activities.
Contributions by thematic sector: 2010
Sector |
Amount |
Amount |
% of total contribution |
Clearance |
35,583,764 |
47,187,630 |
94.80 |
Risk education |
1,950,000 |
2,585,895 |
5.20 |
Total |
37,533,764 |
49,773,525 |
100 |
Of the total funds provided, 87% were allocated for activities related to mines and ERW not including cluster munitions, while 11% went towards activities related to cluster munitions, and 2% went towards activities where no differentiation was made between landmine and cluster munition related activities.
Mine and cluster munition related contributions: 2010
Sector |
Amount |
Amount |
% of total contribution |
Clearance of mines/ERW not including cluster munition remnants |
30,603,482 |
40,583,277 |
81.54 |
Risk education |
1,950,000 |
2,585,895 |
5.20 |
Mine/ERW subtotal |
32,553,482 |
43,169,172 |
86.74 |
Clearance of cluster munition remnants |
4,280,282 |
5,676,083 |
11.40 |
Cluster munition subtotal |
4,280,282 |
5,676,083 |
11.40 |
Clearance |
700,000 |
928,270 |
1.86 |
Undifferentiated subtotal |
700,000 |
928,270 |
1.86 |
Total |
37,533,764 |
49,773,525 |
100 |
In 2010 the EC allocated its contributions to mine action through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) (€5,533,664/$7,338,192) and EuropeAid, the reconstituted development arm of the European Union (€32,000,100/$42,435,334).[3]
The EC’s contribution in 2010 increased by 3% from 2009. From 2006–2010 the EC’s contribution for mine action totaled €190.29 million ($253.58 million), with an annual contribution averaging €38,057,278 ($50,716,650).
Summary of contributions: 2006–2010[4]
Year |
Amount |
Amount |
% change from previous year ($) |
2010 |
37,533,764 |
49,773,530 |
+3 |
2009 |
34,533,082 |
48,121,850 |
+111 |
2008 |
15,478,721 |
22,793,960 |
-50 |
2007 |
33,280,659 |
45,631,110 |
-48 |
2006 |
69,460,162 |
87,262,800 |
+70 |
Total |
190,286,388 |
253,583,250 |
N/A |
N/A = Not applicable
[1] Information provided by Maria Cruz Cristobal, Mine Action Desk, Security Policy Unit, Directorate-General for External Relations, EC, through David Spence, Minister Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva, 20 June 2011; email from Sandrine Petroni, EC, Beirut, 30 June 2011; and email from Julia Goehsing, Program Officer, Resource Mobilisation Unit, UN Mine Action Service, 19 April 2011.
[2] The EC’s contribution to the Occupied Palestinian Territories was made via the UNVTF.
[3] Information provided by Maria Cruz Cristobal, EC, through David Spence, Delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva, 20 June 2011; email from Sandrine Petroni, EC, Beirut, 30 June 2011; and email from Julia Goehsing, UN Mine Action Service, 19 April 2011.
[4] See previous editions of Landmine Monitor; and ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: European Commission: Support for Mine Action,” www.the-monitor.org, 9 December 2010. Amounts in US$ have been rounded to the nearest ten. Average exchange rate for 2010: €1=US$1.3261; 2009: €1=US$ 1.3935; 2008: €1=US$1.4726; and 2007: €1=US$1.3711. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011. Average exchange rate for 2006: €1=US$1.2563. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2009.