L 152/14 Official Journal of the European Union 18.6.2010 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION 2010/336/CFSP of 14 June 2010 on EU activities in support of the Arms Trade Treaty, in the framework of the European Security Strategy THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 26(2) and Article 31(1) thereof, Whereas: On 12 December 2003 the European Council adopted a European Security Strategy that called for an inter- national order based on effective multilateralism. The European Security Strategy acknowledges the United Nations (UN) Charter as the fundamental framework for international relations. Strengthening the UN and equipping it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act effectively, is a priority of the European Union. On 6 December 2006 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 61/89 entitled ‘Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms’. In its conclusions of 11 December 2006, the Council welcomed the formal start of the process towards the elaboration of a legally binding international Arms Trade Treaty (hereinafter referred to as ‘ATT) and noted with appreciation that a clear majority of UN Member States had supported UN General Assembly resolution 61/89, including all Member States of the Union. The Council reaffirmed that the Union and its Member States would play an active role in this process, and underlined the importance of cooperation in this process with other States and regional organi- sations. The UN Secretary-General set up a Group of Govern- mental Experts (hereinafter referred to as ‘GGE), comprising 28 members, to continue the consideration of a possible ATT. The GGE met throughout 2008 and ) concluded that further consideration was required and that efforts should be carried out, on a step-by-step basis, in an open and transparent manner, within the framework of the UN. The GGE encouraged those States in a position to do so, to render assistance to States in need, upon request. In its conclusions of 10 December 2007, the Council welcomed the establishment of a UN GGE and expressed its firm belief that a comprehensive, legally binding instrument, consistent with existing responsi- bilities of States under relevant international law and establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, would be a major contribution to tackling the unde- sirable and irresponsible proliferation of conventional arms. The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) supported this process by undertaking a two- part study consisting of two in-depth analyses of UN Member States” views on the feasibility, scope and draft parameters of an ATT. The analyses, produced in December 2007 and January 2008 served as a useful input to the GGE. On 24 December 2008 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 63240 entitled ‘Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conven- tional arms’ establishing an Open Ended Working Group (hereinafter referred to as ‘OEWG’) to further consider those elements in the report of the GGE where consensus could be developed for their inclusion in an eventual legally binding treaty on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. The OEWG met twice in 2009, and submitted a report to the UN General Assembly noticing that the problem of unregulated trade in conventional weapons and their diversion to the illicit market should be addressed through inter- national action.