30.3.2012 Official Journal of the European Union L 94/1 | (Legislative acts) REGULATIONS 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 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national Parliaments, Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (1), Whereas: 1 In accordance with Council Decision 2001/748/EC of 16 October 2001 concerning the signing on behalf of the European Community of the United Nations Protocol on the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and ammunition, annexed to the Convention against transnational organised crime (?), the Commission signed that Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the ‘UN Firearms Protocol) on behalf of the Community on 16 January 2002. The UN Firearms Protocol, the purpose of which is to promote, facilitate and strengthen cooperation among Parties in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, entered into force on 3 July 2005. (1) Position of the European Parliament of 13 October 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 8 March 2012. () O] L 280, 24.10.2001, p. 5. (3)  In order to facilitate the tracing of firearms and efficiently combat illicit trafficking in firearms, their parts and essential components and ammunition, it is necessary to improve the exchange of information between Member States, in particular through the better use of existing communication channels. (4)  Personal data must be processed in accordance with the rules laid down in Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (}) and Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community insti- tutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (4. (5) In its Communication of 18 July 2005 on measures to ensure greater security in explosives, detonators, bomb- making equipment and firearms (°), the Commission announced its intention to implement Article 10 of the UN Firearms Protocol as part of the measures which need to be taken in order for the Union to be in a position to conclude that Protocol. (6)  The UN Firearms Protocol requires Parties to put in place or improve administrative procedures or systems to exercise effective control over the manufacturing, marking, import and export of firearms. () OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. () OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1. (®) COM(2005) 329. The Communication also announced the technical modification of Directive 91/477/EEC aimed at integrating the appropriate provisions required by the UN Protocol as regards intra-Community transfers of weapons concerned by the Directive, finally amended by Directive 2008/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 179, 8.7.2008, p. 5).