Brussels, 29/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 October, Marietje Schaake MEP (ALDE, Netherlands) asked the European Commission in a written question if it agreed that the EU banning the export of crowd-control equipment, including tear gas, to Bahrain is necessary. She also asked if the Commission is ready to propose and adopt restrictive measures against individuals responsible for human rights violations in Bahrain. In a resolution on 17 January, the European Parliament called for the suspension of, and ban on, the export of tear gas and anti-riot material and for restrictive measures against people responsible for, or involved in, cases of human rights violations (see EUROPE 10767).
Questioned by EUROPE, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton reiterated on 28 October that “the decision to authorise or deny arms exports remains at the discretion of the EU member states, coordinated at the EU level by common position 2008/944/CFSP and the Council working party on conventional arms exports (COARM).” The spokesperson added that, after the uprisings in the region, COARM follows developments closely “with a view to providing national licensing authorities with the most relevant information regarding sensitive export destinations”. (CG/transl.fl)