Activities of Ana GOMES related to 2015/2114(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Arms export: implementation of the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (debate) PT
Amendments (12)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reasserts that adherence to the Common Position is fundamental to the fulfilment of EU principles and values, particularly in the fields of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and of its responsibilities in its own, regional and global security;
Amendment 47 #
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, its strategic autonomy, an effective European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), as well as Security of Supply regime in the EU; 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, which represents an increased risk of dependency on third countries with diverging strategic interests;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that, while denials and suspensions of licences following embargos or conflicts and revolutions such as the Arab Spring are a positive sign, they indicate that the EU export policy is merely reactive in character; considers that a more thorough assessment of the specific risks associated with recipient countries would be necessary before licensing; urges the Council and the VP/HR to look at ways of improving the compliance with the reporting obligation and of increasing the transparency and public scrutiny of the export control framework, namely ensuring that Member States report all arms exports, regardless of their military or other security forces’ handling, and including those exported for hunting and sports purposes, as well as arms sold to collectors;
Amendment 66 #
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 nd explosive, also increasing the risks of being used for terrorist purposes in Europe and elsewhere are increasing; recalls that the Atocha terrorist attacks in Madrid, in 2004, were carried out with explosives bought from several stone quarries; recalls also that the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in Paris, in January 2015, was perpetrated with arms bought at Gare du Midi station in Brussels; 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 and the intention to strengthen police cooperation with neighbouring countries on arms smuggling; __________________ 16 Exploring Tomorrow’s Organised Crime, 2015, Europol
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes COARM’s review of Common Position 2008/944 and the conclusion that it properly serves the objectives set by the Council, and that it is in line with the ATT; expresses concern that Member States thought that no change was necessary despite weaknesses in explosives and arms exports policies exposed by the Arab Spring and ensuing conflict and instability that is widespread across the Middle East and North of Africa, which could, in turn, affect the security of the Union itself; notes that most terrorist attacks by ISIS/Daesh in Iraq, Syria and Libya are carried out via the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs);
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note of the update of the User’s Guide to the Council Common Position and of the EU Military List and notes with alarm its sheer flaws, since it does not encompass weapons used and exported by other security forces in Member States; looks forward to the adoption of a new online information-sharing mechanism by COARM; welcomes the new references made to aspects of the ATT which are not yet included in the Common Position and the changes to the elaborative guidance to Criterion Seven; is disappointed that changes to the guidance on implementing the other criteria have been limited, in particular with regard to Criterion Eight despite widespread difficulties in its effective implementation;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need to ensure a more coherent policy on embargos; calls on Member States to eliminate any ambiguities in their systems but also at the level of the Wassenaar Arrangement concerning the export of ‘military’ and ‘non-military’ arms, which could lead to small arms transfers being able to circumvent regulation systems through being described as ‘non-military’; believes, in this respect, that there is a need for stricter control on the activities of arms brokering and brokering-related activities in the EU, which, because of diverging national control systems, may escape control systems of Member States; calls thus for the establishment and effective implementation of a registration regime entailing the obligation of brokers to report fully on their activities;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is concerned by the possible diversions of exports and by the lack of effective controls on end users, and calls on Member States to establish an effective control system (common monitoring system, non- misuse clause in end-user certificates, mandatory physical inspections of end users), including reinforcement of staff dedicated to this purpose; calls on the Council to better align Criterion Seven to Article 11 of the ATT; is deeply concerned by the possible circumvention of EU export controls through licensed production in countries outside the EU or through overseas subsidiaries of EU- based companies; urges COARM to consider this issue in depth in its next annual report and invites the Commission to propose binding measures to address the issue of extraterritorial brokering in view of further restricting the possibilities for illegal brokering from jurisdictions with no effective arms exports control regimes; believes in this regard that there should be enhanced cooperation among Members States, between Member States and Europol and Eurojust, as well as with third countries, to facilitate the prosecution of brokers and smugglers for illegal arms transfers;
Amendment 143 #
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; regrets that Member States are not coordinating with each other, be it in the NATO, US-led coalition or whatever framework, in the arms supply that some of them are making to the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdista, therefore not ensuring their adequate equipment to fight a common enemy, the ISIS/Daesh criminal band;
Amendment 148 #
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 and complied with uniformly in all Member States; calls on the Member States to report more comprehensivefully 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;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Strongly believes that the citizens have the right to be informed about the arms export decisions of their governments as they affect the security and well-being of their nation and that of countries abroad;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the ongoing work of the Commission 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, which must be underpinned by the objective of improving the coherence and transparency of the export control regime and fully take into account the impact that dual-use goods’ exports may have on human rights in third countries; recalls the urgent need to address potentially harmful exports of ICT products and services to third countries; reminds that the Commission’s proposal must take account of the changing nature of security challenges and the speed of technological developments, especially when it comes to surveillance and intrusion software and equipment;