(16/11/05) EU-gedragscode wapenhandel: vooruitgang, maar graag meer aandacht voor lichte wapens (ATT)

• 2005-11-16

EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports:

Arms exports – good progress so far but worries exist about Austrian Presidency

The European Parliament will today debate the report of Raül Romeva , Parliament's rapporteur on arms exports, on the implementation of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports in its plenary session in Strasbourg. The report is set to be adopted tomorrow. According to the rapporteur, the report is the result of excellent cooperation between the various parliamentary groups as well as with the European Council's working group on arms.

Pending the outcome of the review of the code, which should be finished before the end of the year and will transform it into a legally binding instrument, a lot of progress has been made to effectively control Europe’s arms exports and prevent 'irresponsible' transfers to regions where human rights are violated and/or crises are threatening to become violent. Nevertheless, much must still be done to improve the quality of national reports and to avoid diversion of arms exports, illegal brokering and selective application of the Code's criteria.

Nevertheless, the rapporteur has strong concerns about the absence of the issue of 'light weapons' in the priorities of the upcoming Austrian Presidency. Romeva said:

"After all the work done, I find it unacceptable that the text published on 19 October 2005 by the Austrian government, containing the priorities of the Austrian EU presidency for the first half of 2006, does not contain any reference to the issue of small arms and light weapons. The Austrians will be responsible for the co-ordination and preparation of the EU's contribution to the UN Conference to Review the Action Programme for the Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which will take place in New York in June/July 2006. This conference is vital in the struggle against civil war, terrorism and organised crime, and for that reason it is essential that its outcome should be fully successful."

"I call on the Austrians to reconsider their decision not to prioritise this issue, especially in light of the fact that the Council, led by the UK presidency, adopted a statement in October saying that the International Arms Trade Treaty is a priority for the EU and that previous presidencies and the European Commission have all been very active in bringing an end to the irresponsible proliferation of arms".