On Wednesday 13 September, the European Parliament called for the implementation of a sanctions mechanism against member states that have failed to comply with common position 2008/ 944/CFSP on arms exports.
The report by Bodil Valero (Greens/EFA, Sweden) explains, “It is time that a process was launched that could help create a sanctions mechanism against member states that do not comply with the common position”. The “Arms Exports: Implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP” report was adopted by MEPs with 386 votes in favour, 107 against, and 198 abstentions. In the report, Parliament criticises violations of eight arms export control criteria and therefore calls on the member states and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to “significantly improve” the co-ordinated implementation of the common position, which is, “essential for the Union’s credibility as a values driven global player”. This enhancement should also be by way of intelligence exchange mechanisms, explain MEPs.
According to the MEPs, in addition to assessing whether military technology is likely to be used for domestic repression or other undesirable purposes, member states should, “calculate risks relating to the overall situation in the country of destination (principles-based approach)” particularly with regard to human rights.
MEPs would also like a ninth criterion to be introduced in order to guarantee that export corruption risks are appropriately taken into account when granting export licenses.
MEPs are also urging that a swift, effective and comprehensive update of the Union’s regulation on dual use items is carried out and they call on the Council to adopt an ambitious timetable on this issue.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the member states of the EU are the world’s second largest arms supplier, with 26% of global arms exports (2012-16), after the USA (33%) and before Russia (23%). A report by the Council’s Conventional Arms Exports group estimates that the EU awarded arms export licenses for €94.40 billion worth of arms in 2014.
The common position is available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ :L:2008:335:0099:0103:en:PDF. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)