Summary: Le 16 September 2003: EU research helps root out landmines across the world (Brussels)
There are still between 15,000 and 20,000 new landmine casualties each year. To present EU research initiatives in this field, yesterday in Brussels Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin participated in the international conference for the Detection, Removal and Neutralization of Landmines, organised by the Free University of Brussels (VUB). Over the last ten years the European Commission spent more than €200 million on de-mining, including at least €33 million to develop new
de-mining technologies. More funds will be allocated to this priority within the next four years. EU research projects focus on the development and testing of new detection tools to improve de-mining techniques. EU mine experts have worked all over the world and particularly in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Iraq and South-East Europe.
Commissioner Busquin said: "We cannot accept the ongoing but forgotten bloodshed provoked by landmines. During the last seven years the EU has become a major donor in international research efforts in support of humanitarian mine clearance. Significant technological progress has been made during this period, but more needs to be done to turn knowledge into new de-mining tools. This requires concerted action between international donors, developers and researchers and especially
de-mining specialists working in the field."
EU de-mining research initiatives
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has launched the Test and Evaluation of Technologies for Humanitarian De-mining project, which is key to allow the prediction of the performances and weaknesses of certain types of de-mining equipment in certain conditions.
The challenge is to make the de-mining equipment safer and more effective through standardised tests and evaluations. The JRC is providing test and evaluation (T&E) facilities, is promoting the establishment of T&E standards and is running T&E of de-mining equipment. The prime focus is on the assessment of metal detectors, one of the few widely commercially available tools used by de-miners for manual de-mining activities.
Making metal detectors smarter and more reliable
The Commission participated in the establishment of an Agreement for Test and Evaluation of metal detectors according to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) rules and mandated by CEN. This "CEN Workshop Agreement CWA 14747:2003" provides for principles, guidelines and procedures for detector testing.
Using the developed standard test protocol, the Commission will run test campaigns together with other international partners to assess the capabilities of off-the-shelf and new detectors. In particular, it will monitor:
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