(28) Concerning the consistency of the Firearms Directive with existing EU legislation, the study concluded that the main problems relate to the UNFP.

At the Firearms Committee meeting held in March 2015, the Commission invited Member States representative not only to comment on the evaluation's conclusions but also to raise other possible concerns on the implementation of the Firearms Directive linked to the recent dramatic events that would not have been identified by the consultant.

On the first point, I would emphasise the marking system for firearms and their essential parts, not least for purposes of ensuring their traceability, the obligation to retain data for no less than 20 years, more rigorous monitoring of online selling, given the risks this is known to entail, restrictions on the use of firearms by minors and by people thought likely to endanger public safety, and the introduction of general principles on the deactivation of firearms.

Others highlighted the threat caused by converted and reactivated firearms, pointed out that these weapons are not covered by the current directive, and therefore called for stricter rules, in particular: an indestructible marking of weapons; a ban on geometric marking; strict requirements for qualifications of dealers; a clear definition of brokers; the keeping of digitised data for an unlimited period; guidelines for deactivation of weapons; the incorporation in the directive of the import of weapons into the EU; the limitation to two categories of firearms (prohibited or subject to authorisation); restrictions on how many firearms a single person is allowed to own; and physical inspections in case of ...[+++]transfer of weapons.

10. Asks the UN and the African Union to coordinate their plans better in order to avoid a situation where the establishment of so called "safe areas" under the UN action plan could allow movements of Government troops, thus jeopardising the Ceasefire Agreement; and believes that any movement of troops is in any case to be considered as a breach of the Ceasefire Agreement;

9. Asks the UN and the African Union to coordinate their plans better in order to avoid a situation where the establishment of the so called ‘safe areas’ under the UN action plan could allow movements of Government troops, thus jeopardising the Ceasefire Agreement; and believes that any movement of troops is in any case to be considered as a breach of the Ceasefire Agreement;