Activities of Bodil VALERO related to 2015/2114(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Arms export: implementation of the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) SV
Arms export: implementation of the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) SV
Reports (1)
REPORT on arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP PDF (186 KB) DOC (123 KB)
Amendments (17)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas, specifically in the context of the development of a European defence market and a European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and the Common Security and Defence Policy CSDP), there needs to be a strengthened EU arms export control regime;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the third countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Canada, Croatia, Montenegro and Norway have officially aligned themselves with the Common Position’s criteria and principles;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that EU Member States are major global arms exporters, accounting for EUR 36.7 billion in exports in 2013, of which EUR 26.7 billion is to non-EU countries; considers that the defence industry should aim to primarily ensure defence and security of EU Member States; warns that European defence companies are increasingly compensating for their reduced turnover in Europe through exports to fragile third countries; is seriously concerned by the consequences for the security and defence of the EU caused by the transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology to third countries;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that according to Article 10 of the Common Position considerations of economic, commercial and industrial interests by the Member States shall not affect the application of the criteria regulating arms exports;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the risks deriving from diversions, smuggling and the stockpiling of arms are increasing; stresses the risks that arms exported to third countries might be re-introduced into Europe with unprecedented ease and speed owing to increased arms smuggling and enhanced mobility, thus compromising the security of citizens as was highlighted in a recent EUROPOL report16 ; welcomes the review of the EU legislation on firearms (including on de-activation, administrative sanctions and signal weapons) and the intention to strengthen police cooperation with neighbouring countries on arms smuggling; __________________ 16 Exploring Tomorrow’s Organised Crime, 2015, Europol
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that arms export controls are an integral part of EU foreign and security policy and shall be guided by the principles enshrined in Article 21 of TEU, notably the promotion of democracy and the rule of law and preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security; recalls that arms exports mightcan affect the credibility of the EU as a global human rights advocate; is deeply convinced a more effective implementation including the stricter interpretation of the eight criteria of the Common Position would represent an important contribution to the development of both CFSP and CSDP, and would also contribute to a stronger, more coherent, and common approach to foreign policy by Member States; calls for the new EU global strategy on foreign and security policy to properly consider arms export issues in view of the changed security environment and associated risks and threats;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores that irresponsible arms transfers continue to hinder democratic, economic and socialsocial and/or economic development in many parts of the world; recognises that the effective implementation of Criterion Eight would be a decisive contribution to the EU’s Policy Coherence on Development objectives;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Is concerned about the effect that threats of legal action by companies in some Member States, whether real or perceived, might be having on the consideration of export licence applications; reminds Member States that rigorous and scrupulous application of the eight criteria creates the necessary grounds for licence refusals;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Urges every Member State to treat the concept of risk in arms transfer licensing processes on a precautionary basis, as is standard when addressing other issues areas such as inter alia terrorism, money-laundering and environmental concerns;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Suggests exploring the possibility of applying and extending the eight criteria, also to the transfer of military and security personnel, to arms-export-related services and to private military services; calls for a unified EU approach to the issue of floating armouries;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on all Member States that are not yet in full compliance with Council Common Position 2003/468/CFSP of 23 June 2003 on the control of arms brokering to explain why they are not in compliance and what steps they propose to take and when in order to honour their obligations under this Common Position; encourages Member States to include arms transporting and arms financing services into their arms brokering legislation;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for increased coordination at working level within the Council and the EEAS in order to ensure that aspects related to conflict prevention, development and human rights are duly taken into account; calls for regular consultations between COARM and COHOM as well as for COARM to liaise with all relevant EU actors such as Intcen, EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator and the EU Delegations in order to better improve coherence and share information that might be relevant to arms transfer licensing decisions, in particular with regard to risks in proposed recipient countries, so as to improve the quality of decision made in the context of the Common Position;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Finds regrettable that only 21 Member States made full submissions to the 16th Annual Report; deplores that Greece has not provided any data and that Germany and the UK did not submit any data on actual arms exports and that France provided a total figure for arms exports which was not disaggregated; notes that full submission means data on the financial value of both arms export licences issued and actual exports, broken down by both destination and EU Military List category;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls for the introduction of a standardised reporting and submission procedure, including a deadline, for information on actual exports and licence data to be applied uniformly in all Member States; calls on the Member States to report more comprehensively on licences denied, including licence-specific information regarding recipient state and specific authority, description and quantity of items to be transferred with regard to the subcategories of the Military List, and the reason for the denial; proposes to change the format of the annual report and to launch a public, interactive and searchable online data base;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Member States to explore the issue of loans and export credit guarantees and to evaluate compatibility with national and European development policies;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the on-going workinitiative of the Commission to modernise EU dual- use export controls and its intention to present a new legislative proposal on dual-use exports in the first half of 2016; recalls the urgent need to address potentially harmful exports of ICT products and services to third countries;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Member States to make sufficient resources available to effectively implement and enforce dual- use export, brokering and transit controls; welcomes the on-going EU funded capacity-building programmes in support of third countries’ dual-use export control systems; calls on the Member States to mobilise training capacities within the EU as well;