Conflicts in crisis areas are still fuelled by European weapons – although the majority of European citizens oppose this. Weapons are not like any other export goods and require strict and transparent export controls. How can this look like in practice at EU level? For this, I recently presented a draft together with my Finnish colleague Alviina Alametsä on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament. At the same time, a Europe-wide campaign for better arms export controls at EU level has been launched.

Some background information: Currently, export decisions for arms produced in the EU are taken at the national level. Member states are expected to comply with the so-called “Common Position“, which sets out eight criteria for exporting arms to countries outside the EU and aims to prevent arms exports to crisis regions or exports that contribute to human rights abuses. However, the criteria are currently interpreted differently by each EU member state. This leads to loopholes or to different, sometimes even contradictory national export decisions and practices. An obvious example is arms exports to Saudi Arabia, where several EU Member States – including Germany – imposed a ban, while others – such as France – continued to export arms.