24 January, 2012Italian metalworkers' unions Fim-Cisl and Fiom-Cgil say the official EU report on arms exports is flawed, incomplete and too late. They are among the promoters of the Arms Control Network Rete Italiana per il Disarmo, one of the signatories of a critical appeal against lax European arms export control.
EUROPE: Arms trade campaigners say that the EU's publication of the "Thirteenth Annual Report on Exports Control of Military Technology and Equipment" covering 2010, raises many questions about the reliability of data provided and on the EU's commitment to make arms export control effective.
The EU report was published on the last working day of the year (Friday, December 30, 2011), and neither highlighted on the website of the Council of the European Union or on that of the European Parliament, which suggests that it is regarded as a mere bureaucratic necessity.
Eight countries, including two of the world's largest arms exporters, Germany and the United Kingdom, have not provided full data on deliveries, preventing an accurate analysis of the actual arms exports of EU countries.
The total value of arms export licences in 2010 amounted to €31.7 billion according to the report. Exports to countries of emerging and developing economies soared to €15.5 billion, while the value of exports licensed to western countries fell.
Arms exports to repressive regimes in the Middle East and North Africa fell compared to the record levels of 2009, but were still very high at € 8.3 billion.
"The fact that this report was released without publicity on the last working day of the year indicates that when it comes to arms sales the EU has something to hide", said Kaye Stearman of the UK Campaign Against Arms Trade.
"In fact, these figures reveal the hypocrisy of countries who like to proclaim their commitment to human rights and democracy, yet are more than willing to sell deadly weaponry to abusive and authoritarian regimes. EU citizens should tell their governments to stop arms sales to repressive regimes."
In 2012 the EU will review its arms export policy. Such a review must be based on coherent and comprehensive information, the campaigners say. The European NGOs working on arms export control call for a debate in the European Parliament on the EU report, including a thorough analysis of its shortcomings.
Amongst the signatories, along with the Rete Italiana per il Disarmo, are Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), Campagne tegen Wapenhandel (Netherlands), Justícia i Pau (Spain), Foundation for arms conversion and peace research (Germany), Observatoire des armements (France), Peace Union of Finland, Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, Tavola della Pace (Italy), and Vredesactie (Belgium).
The EU report was published on the last working day of the year (Friday, December 30, 2011), and neither highlighted on the website of the Council of the European Union or on that of the European Parliament, which suggests that it is regarded as a mere bureaucratic necessity.
Eight countries, including two of the world's largest arms exporters, Germany and the United Kingdom, have not provided full data on deliveries, preventing an accurate analysis of the actual arms exports of EU countries.
The total value of arms export licences in 2010 amounted to €31.7 billion according to the report. Exports to countries of emerging and developing economies soared to €15.5 billion, while the value of exports licensed to western countries fell.
Arms exports to repressive regimes in the Middle East and North Africa fell compared to the record levels of 2009, but were still very high at € 8.3 billion.
"The fact that this report was released without publicity on the last working day of the year indicates that when it comes to arms sales the EU has something to hide", said Kaye Stearman of the UK Campaign Against Arms Trade.
"In fact, these figures reveal the hypocrisy of countries who like to proclaim their commitment to human rights and democracy, yet are more than willing to sell deadly weaponry to abusive and authoritarian regimes. EU citizens should tell their governments to stop arms sales to repressive regimes."
In 2012 the EU will review its arms export policy. Such a review must be based on coherent and comprehensive information, the campaigners say. The European NGOs working on arms export control call for a debate in the European Parliament on the EU report, including a thorough analysis of its shortcomings.
Amongst the signatories, along with the Rete Italiana per il Disarmo, are Campaign Against Arms Trade (UK), Campagne tegen Wapenhandel (Netherlands), Justícia i Pau (Spain), Foundation for arms conversion and peace research (Germany), Observatoire des armements (France), Peace Union of Finland, Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, Tavola della Pace (Italy), and Vredesactie (Belgium).