MEPs say the European Commission and Member States must do more in order to properly implement the directive on public procurements in the field of defence and the directive on transfers, in an own-initiative report by Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany), adopted (470 votes to 96, 121 abstentions) on Thursday 25 March, on the second day of the mini-plenary session.
In general, parliamentarians regret how the internal market has fragmented in terms of defence, thereby generating duplication and inefficiencies in State spending. However, they see no need to reopen the texts for them to be revised, but rather to focus on their implementation. They are calling on the goodwill of the Member States and the European Commission. They are also urging the Commission to make greater use of infringement proceedings.
The amendment that was tabled by the Greens/EFA, which denounced existing loopholes in export controls of arms and the practices of certain Member States that supply weapons that are used in war crimes, was rejected en bloc by the EPP, Renew Europe and the ECR group. For the most part, the S&D abstained.
To consult the report: https://bit.ly/3d80tM6 (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)