Strasbourg, 05/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the debate, on Wednesday evening, covering the report by Mr Titley (British Labour) on the first annual report by the EU Council over the enforcement of the Union Code of conduct concerning armament exports, most of the MEPs who spoke supported the main demands of the rapporteur, that the Code become binding and be made more transparent. When, a few years ago, the Parliament had called for such a Code, it was told that it was an "impossible dream"; when the Code was adopted, it was said that it was "too weak and would not work", exclaimed Mr Titley, when noting that in fact the implementation of the Code had already had positive effects, and that a growing number of third countries "are queuing up to joint". Though the Code must become binding, he said.
The Commission is ready to collaborate as much as possible towards the proper implementation of the Code, even if the "ultimate responsibility" rests with the governments, asserted the Commission for External Relations Chris Patten, when underlining that the Commission is "fully associated" with CFSP. The experience in the first year of the Code's enforcement have been "pretty positive", he felt, while welcoming any possibility of improvement and, in particular, the adoption of a common list of military equipment covered by the Code. Furthermore, Mr Patten announced that the Commission is studying the possibility of an improvement to a legislation on non-military items able to be used for torture and cruel and degrading treatment, and he underlined the European Union's contribution to the fight against the destabilising effects of small and light arms. Mr Patten indicated that the Commission is considering to extend beyond it deadline, next November, a collection and destruction programme for light arms in Cambodia and the a similar programme is carried out with South Africa and Mozambique. He felt that the EU should adopt a "credible" common position for the UN conference in 2001 on the illegal trade is small arms.
During the debate, Mrs Morgantini (United Left, Italy) said she felt a certain nostalgia for the time when the pacifist movements made proposals for general disarmament, but, while hoping that, in the EU's defence policy, "it is not arms that dominate", she said she felt like a "dreamer with her feet on the floor", and thus she called for an improvement of the Code. A "general disarmament at a global level" would be unthinkable with the present state of the planet, admitted General Morillon (EPP, French) while feeling that it is necessary to make the Code of conducts as effective as possible. The Dutch Socialist Mr Wiersma insisted in particular on the checking of "final users" of arms exported and on the exports of light arms in the Balkans, and also on the role played by organised crime in the market for arms exports. Mr Belder (Europe of Democracies and Diversities, Dutch) posed the problem of the sale of arms to belligerent countries, citing the Middle East and the Congo, and Mr Wuori (Greens group, Finnish) underlined the importance for the candidate countries to also enforce the Code. Herman Schmidt, Swedish member of the United Left, spoke out against the references made in the Titley report to European defence policy and NATO, references he considers unacceptable for neutral countries such as Sweden: all the Swedish MEPs, he said, should vote against these motions.
The Parliament adopted with a significant majority (353 yes, 74 no and 63 abstentions) the resolution by Mr Titley, calling for the Code of conduct to become legally binding. Furthermore, the Member states (amendment by Mr Sakellariou and the rapporteur himself on behalf of the Socialist group) are invited to intensify their deliberations in view of adding, to the common list of military equipment covered by the Code, the equipment aimed at the paramilitary, public order and internal security, so as to "prepare the ground" for the proposal that the European Commission intends presenting on this issue. By adopting another amendment by Mr Sakellariou and Mr Titley, the Parliament invited the other Member States to join as quickly as possible the framework agreement signed last July by France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden, agreement which foresees common provisions in terms of armament policy and, in particular, the harmonisation of export controls. The Parliament also adopted some amendments from the Greens (but rejected most of them), as well as amendments from Mrs Morgantini and Mr Brie on behalf of the United Left, including one demand for the European Parliament, experts and NGOs to be regularly consulted "to enrich the annual report on arms exports".