Condemning the growing global arms race, MEPs called on the EU to play an active role in global non-proliferation and disarmament, on Wednesday 16 September, by adopting a report by Hannah Neumann (Greens/EFA, Germany) on the implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on the control of exports of military technology and equipment (341 votes in favour, 124 against and 230 abstentions) (see EUROPE 12560/11, 12325/16).
According to SIPRI, the EU28 exported about 26% of the world total in 2015-2019, making it the world's second largest arms supplier behind the US (36%) and ahead of Russia (21%).
The European Parliament therefore is asking for stricter controls on exports of military technology and equipment. It calls for the implementation of strict procedures “to monitor the compliance of all Member States with EU arms embargoes”.
By a narrow majority (381 in favour, 303 against and 13 abstentions), MEPs refused to allow the report to call for measures to set up a European sanctions mechanism for Member States that infringe the common position. The EPP, Renew Europe, ECR and ID groups voted against this mechanism, while the S&D, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups supported it.
MEPs also stress the need to strengthen public control over arms exports in order to establish a significant level of transparency.
The ambition to make the European defence sector more competitive must not jeopardise the application of the eight criteria of the common position, which, they finally warn, take precedence over any economic, social, commercial or industrial interest of the Member States. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)