A limitation to the use of dangerous or improperly deactivated automatic firearms on European soil: this is the main result of the document voted today at the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee of the European Parliament, which will modify the directive coincering legal ownership of firearms in the European Union.

« An important result for all European citizens in terms of common safety, given the current international context and the continuous terrorist threats we face.»: so spoke MEP Lara Comi, from the Italian Forza Italia party, vice-president of the EPP group at the European Parliament, and IMCO member.

« This is the result of a balanced compromise struck between the European Parliament, Commission and Council and will be voted by the EP plenary in March, then will be formally approved by the Council of Ministers of the EU in the coming months.»

« Some categories, such as sport shooters, collectors, hunters and military reserve members, will be safeguarded,» said again MEP Comi. « So to speak, hunters will have access to 10-rounds magazines, and sport shooters will still be able to take part to competitions as long as they can prove that they indeed practice shooting sports.»

The rules that govern the European Firearms Pass (EFP) will be updated to allow the EFP to cover all firearms and to allow inter-EU, cross-border transport of Category A firearms.

Member States will be able to release special authorizations to those individuals who use firearms to protect critical infrastructures and commercial transports, as well as cash-in-transit and other sensitive targets; to those individuals whose positions are critical to national security; as well as for educational, cultural, historical and research purposes.

According to the new paper, Member States will have 15 months to adopt the new rules and 30 months to establish a pan-EU informations exchange system.

« The defense of the well-being of our citizens is a priority for the European Parliament, and today come a new signal for the entire EU,» concluded MEP Comi.