Activities of Bodil VALERO related to 2017/2029(INI)
Plenary speeches (3)
Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) SV
Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) SV
Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) SV
Reports (1)
REPORT on arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP PDF (309 KB) DOC (68 KB)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
— having regard to Council Decision 2012/7115/2309/CFSP of 19 Nov0 December 20125 on support for Union activities in order to promote, among thirthe promotion of effective arms export controls4a and cCountries, the control of arms exports and the principles and criteria of the Common Position4 cil Decision 2017/915 on EU outreach and activities in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)4b, _________________ 4a OJ L 3216, 2011.112.20125, p. 6256. 4b OJ L 139, 30.05.2017, p. 38.
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
— having regard to the updated Common Military List of the European Union adopted by the Council on 9 February6 March 20155 75a, _________________ 5a OJ C 1097, 9.428.03.20147, p. 1.
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution on private security companies of XXX 2017,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the latest figures16 show that arms exports to the Middle East rose by 86 % and accounted for 29 % of global imexports in 2012-16; _________________ 16 ibid. ibid.
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas some arms transfers from EU Member States to unstable and crisis- prone regions and countries were used in armed conflict or for the purposes of internal repression; whereas some of these transfers were reportedly diverted into the hands of terrorist groups, for example in Syria and Iraq;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas some Member States have recently signed strategic agreements on military cooperation including transfers of large quantities and high quality military technology with non-democratic countries in the MENA region;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the situation in Yemen has since further deteriorated also due to military action carried out by the Saudi- led coalition; whereas some Member States have stopped providing arms to Saudi-Arabia because of its actions in Yemen while others have continued supplying military technology contrary to criteria 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that states have the legitimate right to acquire military technology for the purposes of self-defence; recalls that one of the motivations behind the establishment of the Common Position was to prevent European weaponry from being used against Member States’ armed forces; reiterates that the Common Position is a legally binding framework that sets minimum requirements which Member States have to apply in the field of arms export controls, and that it includes the obligation to assess a request for an export licence against all eight criteria listed in it;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the defence industry and the yet to be developed European Defence Technological and Industrial Base should serve as one instrument for guaranteeing the security and defence of Member States, Union citizens and a reinforced CFSP/CSDP; reiterates that Article 10 of the Common Position states that considerations of economic, commercial and industrial interests by Member States shall not affect the application of the eight criteria regulating arms exports;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. StressObserves, however, that military technology ihas being exported to non- eligible destinations and end usersen transferred to destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria of the Common Position; believes that it is time to launch a process leading to a mechanism which sanctions those Member States which do not comply with the Common Position; is alarmed at arms races and at the fact that military approaches to solve political conflict and turmoil are increasingly prioritised over diplomatic and other non- violent approaches, such as conflict prevention;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its call to the VP/HR to launch an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo against countries that are accused of serious allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure; stresses once again that the continued licensing of weapons sales to such countries constitutes a breach of the Common Position;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Deplores that arms are being supplied to Egypt in contravention of both the criteria of the Common Position and the 2013 Council conclusions;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Believes that exports to Saudi- Arabia are non-compliant with at least criterion two regarding the country's involvement in grave breaches of humanitarian law as established by competent UN authorities; re-iterates its call from 26 February 2016 on the urgent need to impose an arms embargo against Saudi-Arabia;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is concerned about possible diversions of exports to Saudi-Arabia and Qatar to armed non-states actors in both Syria and Iraq who commit serious violations of human rights law and humanitarian law and calls on COARM to address the matter with urgency;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that according to the Annual Reports, criterion 7 was invoked 117 times for denials in 2014 and 149 times in 2015; expresses its concern, inter alia, over the alleged diversions of exports of SALW from European countries to certain destinations from which these exports were diverted in order to supply non-state actors and other end-uses non-compliant with the Common Position in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhereSouth Sudan; points to the urgent need to base assessments of the risk of diversion on more than just an acceptance of commitments made by a recipient state in an end-user certificate; highlights the need for effective mechanisms of post- shipment controls to ensure that arms are not being re-exported to unauthorised end users; highlights the potential role that the EEAS could play in supporting Member States’ efforts in this area;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes that effective information exchange and cooperation also require meetings of policy, licensing and enforcement staff and encourages provisions of sufficient resources to this end; believes that a crucial factor in strengthening the implementation of the Common Position lies in expanding relevant capacities of Member States; calls on the Member States and the EEAS to increase the number of personnel working on export-related issues both at national and EU level; encourages the establishment of EU funds to be used for capacity-building among licensing and enforcement officials in Member States;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Stresses the urgent need to enhance the role of EU Delegations in assisting Member States and the EEAS with their export licensing risk assessments and the implementation of end-user controls, post-shipment controls and on-site inspections;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Believes that it is time to consider a stronger role for EU institutions with regard to the licensing process at Member State’s level, in particular with regard to situations in which there is a lack of coherence between Member States on similar items and destinations or end- users;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, producing annual arms exports reports, and that in general there is a lack of parliamentary and public oversight; points to the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which encouragforesee the possibility to provide regular responses to the EU Annual Arms Exports Reports;