The Nordic Countries and the European Security and Defence Policy

238 THE BROADER DIMENSIONS OF SECURITYgramme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in AllIts Aspects (UN Programme of Action). 14However, when the pattern of recent Danish, Finnish, Norwegian andSwedish activities in this field is examined, it is difficult to discern a ‘Nordic’approach. There is no evidence of regional cooperation, or even of the formulationof a regional common position. Furthermore, the three Nordic governmentsthat are EU members have placed much more emphasis on internationalactivities (including campaigning) than on the development of EU policy assuch. The remainder of this chapter explores these connections and contradictionsin more detail, in an endeavour to show that the Nordic–EU policyinterface is just as complicated and problematic in a field related to curbing theexcesses of military activity as it is in relation to more positive defence objectives.Section II defines small arms and light weapons and the characteristics of thechallenge they pose for international society. Section III then traces the recordof the European Union as an actor in this field and in related but broader dimensionsof the armaments trade. The performance—or lack of performance—byNordic member states in influencing the handling and development of thispolicy area in the EU is analysed in section IV, followed in section V by considerationof other forums and other patterns of cooperation that have also, orpreferentially, been used by the Nordic countries. The concluding section raisessome questions for further research.II. The small arms and light weapons issueDefinitions and featuresSmall arms are broadly defined as weapons designed for personal use andcapable of being carried by an individual (e.g., pistols, rifles, sub-machine guns,assault rifles and light machine guns). Light weapons are also easily portableand sometimes require a team to operate them. They include heavy machineguns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns, mortars, recoillessrifles and light anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, the terms small armsand light weapons include their ammunition and components. Alternative definitionsexist and are important in the context of negotiating precise restrictions,but for the purposes of this chapter—and except where explicitly stated—theterm SALW will be used to refer to small arms and light weapons respectivelyand collectively.Four facets of SALW distinguish them from major conventional weapons.First is their low cost: second-hand weapons (such as the ubiquitous RussianKalashnikov rifle) can be purchased for as little as a few US dollars in some14 United Nations, Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SmallArms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, UN document A/CONF.192/15, 20 July 2001, URL .