IV. Exports from the European Union to countries in conflict

Chapter:

6. International arms transfers

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2011

Author(s):

Paul Holtom, Mark Bromley, Pieter D. Wezeman, Siemon T. Wezeman

Seven EU member states—Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Sweden—are among the top 10 suppliers of major conventional weapons in the period 2006–10. Taken together, the 27 EU member states accounted for 34 per cent of world weapon exports. As a group, their largest recipient regions for the period 2006–10 were Europe (41 per cent), Asia and Oceania (28 per cent) and the Middle East (9 per cent). There are two EU mechanisms that can influence EU member states’ decision making on arms exports: EU arms embargoes and the EU Common Position defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment (EU Common Position).⁷³ The EU Common Position obliges EU member states to apply eight criteria relating to issues such as human rights, conflict prevention and economic development when assessing export licence applications. It also includes a set of operative provisions related to information exchange and consultation that are aimed at harmonizing EU member states’ interpretation of the criteria. Despite being a legally binding instrument, the EU Common Position leaves decision making on the granting or denying of arms export licences in the hands of individual member states.