Directive (EU) 2021/555 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (codification)

What it is

to lay down minimum provisions on the movement of firearms within the EU (codification of Council Directive 91/477/EEC). PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons has been substantially amended several times. In the interests of clarity and transparency of the law, the purpose of this proposal is to undertake a codification of Council Directive 91/477/EEC. The proposed new Directive will supersede the various acts incorporated in it; it fully preserves the content of the acts being codified and hence does no more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification exercise itself. The European Parliament adopted by 601 votes to 77, with 14 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (codification of Council Directive 91/477/EEC). Parliament adopted its position at first reading on the proposal which, in the opinion of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts without any change in their substance. The purpose of the proposal for a codified Directive is to lay down minimum provisions governing the movement of civil firearms within the EU. To this end, it provides for the categories of firearms whose acquisition and possession by private individuals will have to be either prohibited (category A), or subject to authorisation (category B) or declaration (category C). As long as firearms are legally acquired and possessed in accordance with the Directive, national provisions on carrying, hunting or shooting should apply. - ensure that all firearms manufactured in or imported into the Union on or after 14 September 2018 bear a clear, permanent and unique marking and are registered in Member States' data filing systems; - carry out strict controls on the activities of dealers and brokers, in particular by verifying the private and professional integrity of dealers and brokers; - establish a computerised, centralised or decentralised data filing system, guaranteeing authorised access to the data-filing systems in which each firearm covered by the Directive is registered; - ensure that data relating to firearms, including related personal data, are kept by the competent authorities in the data-filing system for a period of 30 years after the destruction of the firearms or essential components in question. The proposed Directive obliges arms dealers and brokers to keep a register in which all entries and exits they carry out in relation to each firearm are recorded, together with data enabling the identification and tracing of the firearm. Arms dealers and brokers established on the territory of a Member State will have to report transactions involving firearms to the…

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