In a joint statement issued today, the defence ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia say they “unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention,” which took effect in 1999.

Poland and the Baltic republics have announced plans to withdraw from a major international treaty outlawing anti-personnel landmines

Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has suggested that his country may withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. If Poland proceeds with the withdrawal, it will become the first EU member state not to be part of the treaty.