Arms transfer controls in Europe
As host to many large arms exporters, it is vital that Europe has effective arms transfer controls. Saferworld began calling for a regional agreement on arms transfers in the EU almost 20 years ago. A major milestone was achieved when the EU adopted a politically-binding Code of Conduct on Arms exports in 1998.
Since then there have been several positive achievements at the EU level. Member states have agreed a Common Military List of equipment covered by the EU Code, a Common Position on Arms Brokering, an EU Code User’s Guide to assist implementation, and in 2008 the EU Code was transformed into a legally-binding Common Position.
However, the picture today is still far from perfect. Saferworld is continuing to promote further improvement across a range of issues including: the relationship between the EU defence sector and emerging producers in other parts of the world; arms transfer control outreach to neighbouring states; harmonisation of interpretation of the existing EU transfer control criteria; using the licensing process to combat corruption and controls on the re-export of EU-sourced defence items by recipients.
We work in partnership with European governments, parliamentarians and non-governmental organisations to strengthen regulation of the European arms trade by carrying out research, developing policy on the EU Common Position Defining Common Rules Governing Control of Exports of Military Technology and Equipment and raising awareness through seminars and policy roundtables with governments and civil society.
We work with new and aspiring member states and neighbouring countries to promote arms controls that comply with EU standards. We encourage the adoption of better accountability systems, including parliamentary scrutiny of export licences and arms export reports at both national and EU levels. Our reports and recommendations cover a number of countries including the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Moldova.
Comparing national reporting of EU Members
