Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Revision of Firearms Directive)
On 18.11.2015, the EC adopted a legislative proposal for amending the 91/477 Firearms Directive, together with the overdue evaluation report and Implementing Regulation on deactivation. Among others, the EC proposal contained stricter rules to ban certain semi-automatic firearms and for the online acquisition of firearms; included museums and collectors in the scope of the Directive; amended the authorisation conditions for acquiring and possessing a firearm (e.g. provision of a medical test).
The Parliament and the Council negotiated the Directive and reached an agreement on the proposal in December 2016; they formally adopted it in March and April 2017 respectively. The new rules reduce the number of weapons categories and change the classification of certain types of weapons, while strictly defining exceptions for civilian use of the most dangerous weapons. The agreed text also sets out the requirements for the Commission to adopt implementing or delegated rules on deactivation, on marking and on exchange of information. The revised Firearms Directive (EU) 2017/853 entered into force on 13 June 2017, with the deadline for transposition of most provisions set at 14 September 2018.
Outcome of the political negotiations
Press/Studies/Multimedia
- Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons - Briefing EU Legislation in Progress (June 2017)
- Overview of the revision of the Firearms Directive
- Press release: Parliament approves revised EU gun law to close security loopholes (14.03.2017)
- Revision of the Firearms Directive - at a glance- Plenary March II 2017
- Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons - Briefing EU Legislation in Progress (January 2017)
- Press release: EU gun law updated to close security loopholes while protecting legitimate users (26.01.2017)
- Extracts from the vote and statement by Rapporteur Vicky Ford (26.01.2017)
- Press release: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161214IPR56126/firearms-update-on-the-agreement-on-revision-of-eu-gun-law (14.12.2016)
- Press release: Outcome of the trilogue on firearms: Statement by Parliament’ lead negotiator (06.12.2016)
- Video statement by Vicky Ford ahead of the trilogue on the revision of the EU firearms directive on 5 December 2016 (01.12.2016)
- Press release: Gun control: Internal Market MEPs give go-ahead for negotiations to start with EU governments (05.09.2016)
- Vicky Ford: "The goal of gun control legislation is to close loophole exploited by terrorists" (14.07.2016)
- Press conference by Rapporteur (13.07.2016)
- Press release: Gun control: MEPs clarify licensing rules and safeguards (13.07.16)
- Extracts from the vote (13.07.2016)
- Press release: Gun control: MEPs debate changes to firearms proposal to make it fit for purpose (20.04.16)
- Extracts from the committee date (20.04.16)
- Press release: Firearms proposal: impact on law-abiding citizens dominates EP committee debate (23.02.16)
- EuroparlTV: Fighting terror: EU targets gun directive
- EPRS In-Depth Analysis
- Video - Vicky Ford's statements in a seminar for journalists on "Terrorism: the EU's response", on 27 January 2016 (from 11.35 onwards)
- Presentation by the Commission and main issues raised by MEPs during the committee meeting of 7 December 2015