2018/2157(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

– having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 16 promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Encourages the Member States to undertake a more detailed examination of licensed production by third countries and to ensure stronger safeguards against undesired uses~~; demands the strict application of the Common Position with regard to licensed production in third countries~~ and industrial espionage;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses the need to develop an approach to address situations where Member States make a different interpretation of the 8 criteria of the Common Position for exports of products that are essentially alike, to similar destinations and end users, in order to preserve the level playing field and the EU’s credibility abroad;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Asks the Member States and the EEAS to develop a dedicated strategy to provide formal protection for whistle- blowers reporting practices by organisations and companies in the weapons industry that breach the criteria and principles set out in the Common Position;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls furthermore for the eight criteria to be extended and applied also to the transfer of military, security and police personnel, to arms-exports-related services, know-how and training, security technology and to private military and security services;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Calls on the Member States and the EEAS to cooperate closely to prevent risks arising from the diverting and stockpiling of weapons, such as illegal arms trafficking and smuggling; stresses the risk of weapons exported to third countries re-entering the EU via arms smuggling and trafficking;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Calls on the Member States and the EEAS to add a new criterion to the Common Position in order to ensure that, when granting authorisations, due account is taken of the risk of corruption concerning the relevant exports;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Pays tribute to the efforts of COARM in connection with cooperation ~~and coordina~~, coordination, convergence (with particular reference to the user's guide for the common position), and with bolstering and implementing the Common Position, especially as regards awareness- raising campaigns and approximation or harmonisation processes within the EU and involving third countries;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Pays tribute to the efforts of COARM in connection with cooperation and coordination ~~and with bolstering and implementing the Common Position~~, especially as regards awareness-raising campaigns and approximation or harmonisation processes within the EU and involving third countries;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Regrets the very late publication of the eighteenth annual report for 2015 in March 2017 and of the nineteenth annual report for 2016 in February 2018; calls for a more standardised and timely reporting and submission procedure to be guaranteed by setting a strict and realistic deadline for submitting data ~~of no later than January following the year in which the exports took place, and by setting a fixed publication date of no later than March following the export year~~, and by setting a fixed publication date;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Regrets the very late publication of the eighteenth annual report for 2015 in March 2017 and of the nineteenth annual report for 2016 in February 2018; calls for a more standardised and timely reporting and submission procedure to be guaranteed by setting a strict deadline for submitting data ~~of no later than January following the year in which the exports took place, and by setting a fixed publication date of no later than March following the export ye~~, and by setting a fixed publication date based on national and international calendars;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Common Position 2008/944/CFSP is a legally binding framework laying down eight criteria; whereas, wherever these are not met, the issuance of an export licence should be denied (criteria 1-4) or consideration should at least be given to doing so (criteria 5-8); whereas the decision to transfer or deny the transfer of any military technology or equipment remains at the national discretion of each Member State according to article 4(2) of the Common Position;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recalls that ~~according to Article 8(2) of the Common Position~~it is desirable that all Member States are obliged to report on their arms exports, and urges all Member States to comply fully with their obligations, as set out in the Common Position; stresses that high-quality data on actual deliveries is essential for understanding how the eight criteria are applied;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recalls that according to Article 8(2) of the Common Position all Member States are obliged to report on their arms exports, and urges all Member States to comply fully with their obligations, as set out in the Common Position; stresses that high-quality, disaggregated data on actual deliveries is essential for understanding how the eight criteria are applied;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Criticises the fact that a number of Member States did not make full submissions to the nineteenth annual report on the basis of detailed, country-specific data; notes that Cyprus submitted a ‘nil’ report; criticises the fact that Greece did not submit a report at all, Italy and France only reported total data on the value of actual exports and Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom did not report values of actual exports; is concerned that, as a result, important information is missing from the COARM annual report, which is therefore not up to date or able to present a complete picture of Member States’ export activities; considers that a standardised verification and reporting system should be established to provide more detailed and exhaustive information; reiterates its request that all Member States, especially the main arms- exporting ones which have not made full submissions, provide a full set of data regarding their past exports with a view to the next annual report;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Criticises the fact~~Notes that a number of Member States did not make full submissions to the nineteenth annual report on the basis of detailed, country-specific data; notes that Cyprus submitted a ‘nil’ report; criticises the fact that Greece did not submit a report at all, Italy and France only reported total data on the value of actual exports and Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom did not report values of actual exports; is concerned that, as a result, important information is missing from the COARM annual report, which is therefore not up to date or able to present a complete picture of Member States’ export activities; considers that a standardised verification and reporting system should be established to provide more detailed and exhaustive information; reiterates its request that all Member States, especially the main arms- exporting ones which have not made full submissions, provide a full set of data regarding their past exports with a view to the next annual reportrecognises, however, that Member States may not always be able to give full submissions due to the commercial sensitivity and security risks surrounding such information;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Criticises the fact that a number of Member States did not make full submissions to the nineteenth annual report on the basis of detailed, country-specific data; notes that Cyprus submitted a ‘nil’ report; criticises the fact that Greece did not submit a report at all, Italy and France only reported total data on the value of actual exports and Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom did not report values of actual exports; is concerned that, as a result, important information is missing from the COARM annual report, which is therefore not up to date or able to present a complete picture of Member States’ export activities; considers that a standardised verification and reporting system should be established to provide more detailed and exhaustive information; reiterates its request that all Member States~~, especially the main arms- exporting ones~~ which have not made full submissions, provide a ~~full set of data~~dditional information regarding their past exports with a view to the next annual report;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Criticises the fact that a number of Member States did not make full submissions to the nineteenth annual report on the basis of detailed, country-specific data; notes that Cyprus submitted a ‘nil’ report; criticises the fact that Greece did not submit a report at all, Italy and France only reported total data on the value of actual exports and Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom did not report values of actual exports; criticises the fact that France, over the past years, appears to have adopted a diverging method to define and count the value of export licences, and as a consequence, has unrealistically inflated the total value of EU arms export licences and seriously undermined the comparative value of the data, both temporally and across jurisdictions; is concerned that, as a result, important information is missing from the COARM annual report, which is therefore not up to date or able to present a complete picture of Member States’ export activities; considers that a standardised verification and reporting system should be established to provide more detailed and exhaustive information; reiterates its request that all Member States, especially the main arms- exporting ones which have not made full submissions, provide a full set of data regarding their past exports with a view to the next annual report;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Criticises the fact that a number of Member States did not make full submissions to the nineteenth annual report on the basis of detailed, country-specific data; notes that Cyprus submitted a ‘nil’ report; criticises the fact that Greece did not submit a report at all, Italy and France only reported total data on the value of actual exports and Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom did not report values of actual exports; is concerned that, as a result, important information is missing from the COARM annual report, which is therefore not up to date or able to present a complete picture of Member States’ export activities; considers that a standardised verification and reporting system should be established to provide more detailed and exhaustive information; reiterates its request that all Member States~~, especially the main arms- exporting ones which have not made full submissions,~~ provide a full set of data regarding their past exports with a view to the next annual report;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Notes that according to the nineteenth annual report, the criteria invoked for denials differed in their application, with criterion 1 being invoked 82 times, criterion 2 119 times, criterion 3 103 times, criterion 4 85 times, criterion 5 8 times, criterion 6 12 times, criterion 7 139 times, and criterion 8 once; notes with concern that the number of denied licences fell in total and also in relative terms (only 0.76% of licence applications were denied in 2016 compared to almost 1% in 2015); notes with disappointment the continued failure of the report to include figures on the outcome of consultations regarding denial notifications and calls on the Member States to include this data in future annual reports;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the latest figures14 allegedly show that arms exports from the EU-28 amounted to over 27 % of the global total in 2013-2017, which would makes them, collectively, the second largest arms supplier in the world after the US (34 %) and followed by Russia (22 %); whereas 2015 and 2016 appear to have been the years in which by far the historically highest ~~numbers of~~figures for arms exports licences by value have been granted since the beginning of EU data collection, with a total value of EUR 195.95 billion in 2015 and, according to the most recent report by the Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM), EUR 191.45 billion in 201615 ; whereas unfortunately the 2015 and 2016 figures are misleading and inaccurate as the volume of licences is in parts more an expression of intent as regards France than a precise figure on real exports to be expected to materialise in the near future; _________________ 14 Trends in international arms transfers, 2017 (SIPRI Fact Sheet, March 2018). 15 http://enaat.org/eu-export- browser/licence.de.html

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

~~17. Suggests that additional information be col~~delected from Member States and published both at national level and in the COARM annual report; suggests that an overview setting out a trend comparison with previous years, together with aggregated figures, be added to the COARM annual report;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Suggests that additional information be collected from those Member States and published both at national level and in the COARM annual report; suggests that an overview setting out a trend comparison with previous years, together with aggregated figures, be added to the COARM annual reporwho freely decide to provide it;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Suggests that ~~additional information be collected from Member States and published both at national level and in the COARM annual report; suggests that~~ an overview setting out a trend comparison with previous years, together with aggregated figures, be added to the COARM annual report;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, ~~producing~~ annual arms export reports; calls, therefore, for a general increase in parliamentary and public oversight; points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports and calls in this respect for an improvement of the current situation and to guarantee that the European Parliament responds to the annual COARM report with its own annual report which should be out of quota;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, producing annual arms export reports; calls, therefore, for a general increase in parliamentary and public oversight; points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports; calls on national parliaments to exchange any existing best practices in the area of reporting and supervision of arms exports;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, producing annual arms export reports; ~~call~~suggests, therefore, ~~for~~ a general increase in parliamentary and public oversight; ~~points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports;~~

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, producing annual arms export reports; ~~calls, therefore, for a general increase in parliamentary and public oversight;~~ points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EUMember State national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions by, inter alia, producing annual arms export reports; calls, therefore, for a general increase in parliamentary ~~and public oversight; points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports~~oversight, within the limits of commercial sensitivity and national security;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that not all EU national parliaments scrutinise governmental licensing decisions ~~by, inter alia, producing annual arms export reports~~; calls, therefore, for a general increase in parliamentary and public oversight; points to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which provide for the possibility of regular responses to the EU Annual Reports on Arms Exports;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Welcomes regular consultations with national parliaments, arms export control authorities, industry associations and civil society as central to meaningful transparency; calls on COARM, all the Member States and the EEAS to enhance dialogue with civil society and consultations with national parliaments and arms export control authorities; encourages national parliaments, civil society and academia to exercise independent scrutiny of the arms trade, and calls on the Member States and the EEAS to support such activities, including by financial means;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the latest figures14show that arms exports from the EU-28 amounted to over 27 % of the global total in 2013-2017, which makes them, collectively, the second largest arms supplier in the world after the US (34 %) and followed by Russia (22 %); whereas 2015 and 2016 have been the years in which ~~by far~~ the historically highest numbers of arms exports licences have been granted since the beginning of EU data collection, with a total value of EUR 195.95 billion in 2015 and, according to the most recent report by the Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM), EUR 191.45 billion in 201615; _________________ ~~14Trends in international arms transfers, 2017 (SIPRI Fact Sheet, March 2018).~~ 15 http://enaat.org/eu-export- browser/licence.de.html

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underscores the important role of civil society, national parliaments and the European Parliament in both implementing and enforcing the Common Position’s agreed standards at national and EU level and in establishing a transparent, accountable control system; calls, therefore, for a transparent and robust control mechanism which bolsters the role of parliaments and of civil society;deleted

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underscores the important role of civil society, national parliaments and the European Parliament in both ~~implemen~~supporting and en~~forc~~couraging the Common Position’s agreed standards at national and EU level and in establishing a transparent, accountable control system; calls, therefore, for a transparent and robust control mechanism which bolsters the role of parliaments and of civil society; encourages national parliaments, civil society and academia to exercise independent scrutiny of the arms trade, and calls on the Member States and the EEAS to support such activities, including by financial means;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underscores the important role of ~~civil society,~~ national parliaments ~~and~~, the European Parliament and of civil society in both implementing and enforcing the Common Position’s agreed standards at national and EU level and in establishing a transparent, accountable control system; calls, therefore, for a transparent and robust control mechanism which bolsters the role of parliaments and of civil society;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underscores the ~~important role of civil society,~~role of national parliaments and the European Parliament in both implementing and enforcing the Common Position’s agreed standards at national and EU level and in establishing a transparent, accountable control system; calls, therefore, for a transparent and robust control mechanism which bolsters the role of parliaments and of civil society;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses the significance and legitimacy of parliamentary oversight concerning data relating to arms export control and how that control is carried out; calls, in this connection, for the measures, backing and information needed to ensure that the public oversight function can be performed to the full;deleted

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 137 #

20a. Suggests that exports of products financed under the EDIDP and/or the European Defence Fund (EDF) are listed in the data submitted to COARM separately in order to ensure a close monitoring of those products which have been financed by means from the European budget; calls on the Council and the Parliament to agree on a detailed interpretation and implementation regime including a supervisory body, a sanctioning body and an ethical committee for the criteria of the Common Position to be applied at least to the products financed under EDIDP and/or the EDF in order to ensure equal export frameworks for the countries involved; perspectively, the common interpretation and implementation should apply to all arms exports from Member States;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that the EU should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer controls as well as in enhancing research and development of conversion technologies and production lines from military to civil use structures, e.g. by granting export advantages for those goods;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the latest figures14 show that arms exports from the EU-28 amounted to over 27 % of the global total in 2013-2017, which makes them, collectively, the second largest arms supplier in the world after the US (34 %) and followed by Russia (22 %); whereas years 2015 and 2016 ~~have been the years in which by far the historically~~observed the highest numbers of arms exports licences ~~have been~~ granted since the beginning of EU data collection, with a total value of EUR 195.95 billion in 2015 and, according to the most recent report by the Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM), EUR 191.45 billion in 201615 ; _________________ 14 Trends in international arms transfers, 2017 (SIPRI Fact Sheet, March 2018). 15 http://enaat.org/eu-export- browser/licence.de.html

Amendment 140 #

Eugen FREUND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that the EU should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer controls; believes, therefore, that EU Member States must do their utmost to seek a common position;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that the EU should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, ~~global disarmament~~the worldwide disarmament of illegal organisations and states that violate human rights and arms transfer controls;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Points out the EU's ambitions to become a global actor for peace; Takes the view that the EU should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer controls;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that the EU should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further ~~arms limitation~~improved export control mechanisms and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non- proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer controls;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that the EUMember States should meet ~~its~~their increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that~~, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer control~~ the EU, which has not achieved the rank of a responsible global player must respect and support initiatives taken to this end by the Member States;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recognises that all the Member States are signatories to the ATT; calls for universalisation of the ATT and for more focus to be placed on those countries that are not signatories; also commends the outreach efforts regarding the ATT and supports its effective implementation; encourages Member States to help third countries in the creation, improvement and application of arms checking systems in compliance with the common position;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recognises that all the Member States are signatories to the ATT; ~~calls for universalisation of the ATT and for more focus to be placed on those countries that are not signatories;~~ also commends the outreach efforts regarding the ATT and supports its effective implementation;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recognises that all the Member States are signatories to the ATT; calls for universalisation of the ATT and for more focus to be placed on those countries that are not signatories or those who are signatories but have not yet ratified the Treaty; also commends the outreach efforts regarding the ATT and supports its effective implementation;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recognises that all the Member States are ~~signator~~State Parties to the ATT; calls for universalisation of the ATT and for ~~more focus to be placed on~~increased efforts to be made with those countries that are not ~~signator~~yet State Parties; also commends the outreach efforts regarding the ATT and supports its effective implementation;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Reiterates its position on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS); calls for a ban on the exports of products which are used in the development and in the production of lethal autonomous weapon systems;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the COARM annual reports are so far the only instrument whose purpose is to cover the implementation of the Common Position, whereas these reports have, in particular prior to the reporting period 2015 and 2016, helped to make Member States’ arms exports more transparent and whereas the volume of guidelines and clarifications in the User’s Guide has grown considerably; whereas, because of the Common Position, the volume of information on the issuing of arms export licences has increased for a certain period of time, but has decreased since 2015, due to French changes of the method to define and count the value of export licences, which undermined the utility of the presented data;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is of the opinion that an effective international arms control agreement should cover all transfers including also state-to-state transfers, state- to-private-end- user transfers and leases, as well as loans, gifts, aid or any other form of transfer;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. ~~Is of the opinion~~Points out that an effective international arms control agreement ~~should~~ covers state-to-state transfers, state- to- private-end-user transfers and leases, as well as loans, gifts, aid or any other form of transfer;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is of the opinion that an effective international arms control agreement should cover state-to-state transfers, state- to-~~priv~~non-state-end-user transfers and leases~~, as well as loans, gifts, aid or any other form of transfer~~;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Underlines the need to ban the development, production and use of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) and their export to third countries;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of NATO, and the Secretary- General of the United Nations.

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas both the global and regional security environment has dramatically changed, especially with regard to the Union’s southern and eastern neighbourhood, and this highlights the urgent need to improve methodologies with regard to producing information for export licensing risk assessments and to make them more secure;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas not all Member States make a full submission to COARM; whereas, because of the differing data collection arrangements and submission procedures of individual Member States and their different interpretation of the eight criteria, data sets are incomplete and vary, and arms export practices diverge widely; points out that information exchange must be compatible with the national laws and administrative procedures in each country;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas there is no standardised verification and reporting system providing information as to whether, and to what extent, individual Member States’ exports violate the eight criteria; whereas there is no possibility of havingcurrently no mechanism for standardised, independent verification and reporting of compliance with the eight criteria ~~verified independently~~of the Common Position;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)

– having regard to the UN Disarmament Agenda, 'Securing our Common Future',

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas measures on trafficking of small arms and light weapons have been adopted in recent years~~, with an updated List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies under the Wassenaar Arrangement~~; whereas while issues such as control of arms brokering, licensed production outside the EU and end-user control have been put on the agenda and, to some extent, incorporated into the Common Position itself, ~~many~~some products, in particular in the field of dual- use goods~~, cybertechnology and surveillance are still not covered by the control system~~;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the nineteenth annual report reveals that 40.5 % of the licences for arms exports were granted to countries in the MENA region for a value of EUR 77.5 billion, with Saudi-Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accounting for the bulk of these exports, worth EUR 57.9 billion; whereas the quota of denied licences for the three countries was 2.2 % even though, according to the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) the supply of military technology to one or more of those countries is a violation of, at least, criteria 1-616of the Common Position (Egypt and Saudi-Arabia criteria 1-6 and UAE criteria 1 and 6), which highlights the need for better scrutiny and transparency; _________________ 16 http://ruestungsexport.info/map/

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the nineteenth annual report reveals that 40.5 % of the licences for arms exports were granted to countries in the MENA region for a value of EUR 77.5 billion, with Saudi-Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accounting for the bulk of these exports, worth EUR 57.9 billion; whereas the quota of denied licences for the three countries was 2.2 % even though, according to the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) the supply of military technology to one or more of those countries is a violation of, at least, criteria 1-616 of the Common Position (Egypt and Saudi-Arabia criteria 1-6 and UAE criteria 1 and 6), which highlights the need for better scrutiny and transparency; _________________ 16http://ruestungsexport.info/map/

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the nineteenth annual report reveals that 40.5 % of the licences for arms exports were granted to countries in the MENA region for a value of EUR 77.5 billion, with Saudi-Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accounting for the bulk of these exports, worth EUR 57.9 billion; whereas the quota of denied licences for the three countries was 2.2 % even though, according to the Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) the supply of military technology to one or more of those countries ~~is a violation of, at least,~~raises critical concerns under specific criteria ~~1-616~~ of the Common Position (Egypt and Saudi- Arabia criteria 1-6 and UAE criteria 1 and 6), which highlights the need for better scrutiny and transparency; ~~_________________ 16 http://ruestungsexport.info/map/~~

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas, in some cases, the arms exported to certain countries, for example to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and members of the Saudi-led coalition, have been used in conflicts such as in Yemen; whereas such exports clearly violate the Common Position;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)

Ib. whereas the EU-funded report “Weapons of the Islamic State” (December 2017) by Conflict Armament Research found that a high number of weapons and ammunitions were repeatedly exported by Bulgaria and Romania to both the US and Saudi- Arabia and retransferred, in some cases, in direct breach of specific no-re-export undertakings, to non-state groups in Syria and Iraq; whereas the report stated that these unauthorised retransfers are “a significant source of IS weapons and ammunition”; whereas these repeated and systematic retransfers contravened clauses in end-user certificates; whereas EU Member States are obliged, under criterion seven of the legally- binding EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on arms exports, to factor these breaches of commitment into future export licensing decisions;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)

Ic. whereas the European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2016 on the humanitarian situation in Yemen called on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to launch an initiative to impose an EU arms embargo on Saudi Arabia;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)

Id. whereas arms licensed for transfer by EU Member States and subsequently used in the current Yemen conflict have had a catastrophic impact on sustainable development in Yemen;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the defence sector has become a focal point of EU policy since the European Global Strategy (EUGS) argues that a ‘sustainable, innovative and competitive European defence industry is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and for a credible CSDP’17 ; whereas the main task of the European Defence Fund and, as a precursor, the EDIDP, which has recently been launched, is to ‘support the competitiveness of Europe’s defence industry’18 ; _________________ 17A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and. Security Policy: ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’, Brussels, June 2016. 18Launching the European Defence Fund, COM(2017)0295, Brussels, 7.6.2017.deleted

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the defence sector has become a focal point of EU policy since the European Global Strategy (EUGS) argues that a ‘sustainable, innovative and competitive European defence industry is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and for a credible CSDP’17; whereas arms exports are key to boosting the industrial and technological basis for European defence, and whereas the priority of the defence industry is to guarantee the security and defence of the EU Member States and contribute to the implementation of the CFSP; whereas the main task of the European Defence Fund and, as a precursor, the EDIDP, which has recently been launched, is to ‘support the competitiveness of Europe’s defence industry’18; _________________ 17 A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and. Security Policy: ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’, Brussels, June 2016. 18 Launching the European Defence Fund, COM(2017)0295, Brussels, 7.6.2017.

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution on the humanitarian situation in Yemen of 25 February 2016, 15 June 2017, and 30 November 2017,

Amendment 30 #

J. whereas the defence sector has become a focal point of EU policy since the European Global Strategy (EUGS) argues that a ‘sustainable, innovative and competitive European defence industry is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and for a credible CSDP’17 ; whereas the main task of the European Defence Fund and, as a precursor, the EDIDP, which has recently been launched, is allegedly to ‘support the competitiveness of Europe’s defence industry’18 ; _________________ 17 A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and. Security Policy: ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’, Brussels, June 2016. 18 Launching the European Defence Fund, COM(2017)0295, Brussels, 7.6.2017.

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the defence sector has become a focal point of EU policy since the European Global Strategy (EUGS) ~~argu~~states that a ‘sustainable, innovative and competitive European defence industry is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and for a credible CSDP’17 ; whereas the main task of the European Defence Fund and, as a precursor, the EDIDP, which has recently been launched, is to ‘support the competitiveness of Europe’s defence industry’18 ; _________________ 17 A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and. Security Policy: ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’, Brussels, June 2016. 18 Launching the European Defence Fund, COM(2017)0295, Brussels, 7.6.2017.

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas transparency measures such as the monitoring of arms exports help to boost trust among Member States;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

~~K. whereas Article 10 of the Common Position clearly states that compliance with the eight criteria takes precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States;~~deleted

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas Article 10 of the Common Position clearly states that ~~compliance with the eight criteria~~ the consideration by Member Staktes ~~precedence over any~~of any of their economic social, commercial or industrial interests ~~of Member States~~shall not affect the application of the criteria;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 (new)

-1. Underlines that states have the legitimate right to acquire military technology for the purposes of self- defence; notes that maintaining a defence industry serves as part of the self-defence of the Member States;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 a (new)

-1a. Notes that a European defence market serves as an instrument for guaranteeing the security and defence of Member States, Union citizens and contributes to the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and in particular the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP); calls on the Member States to overcome the current lack of efficiency in defence spending due to duplication, fragmentation, lack of interoperability and to aim for the EU to become a security provider also by better controlling arms exports;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges that the EU is the only union of states to have a legally binding framework through which arms export control is being improved, including in crisis regions and countries with a questionable human rights record; welcomes, in this connection, the fact that European and non-European third countries have joined the arms export control system on the basis of the Common Position; encourages also remaining candidate countries, countries in the process of attaining candidate status, or countries otherwise wishing to engage themselves on the path of EU accession, to apply the provisions of the Common Position;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. 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 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 27 February 2014 on the use of armed drones,

Amendment 40 #

1a. Encourages countries in the process of attaining candidate status, or countries otherwise wishing to engage themselves on the path of EU accession, to apply the provisions of the Common Position;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes with concern that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the Member States; calls, therefore, for ~~a standard,~~the competent body to intervene to give a standard, systematic and uniformly strict interpretation and for full implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes ~~with concern~~ that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted ~~with vary~~ing d~~egrees of rigour in the Member States; calls, therefore, for a standard, uniformly strict interpretation and full implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations~~ifferent ways by Member States, which are ultimately responsible for its interpretation and enforcement;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes with concern that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the Member States; calls, therefore, for a standard, uniformly strict interpretation and full implementation of the Common Position with all its obligatinot appropriate for the diversity of sometimes opposite interests in both the commercial and strategic domains; calls for this common position to be abandoned in favour of the principle that arms exports should be controlled by Member States alonse;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes ~~with concern~~ that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the Member States; calls~~, therefore,~~ for a standard, ~~uniformly strict interpret~~coordinated and strict application and ~~full~~ implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes with concern that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the Member States; calls, therefore, for a ~~standard,~~ uniformly strict interpretation and full implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes ~~with concern~~ that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the Member States; calls, therefore, for a standard, uniform~~ly strict~~ interpretation and full implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes that the export licensing risk assessment methodology should incorporate a precautionary principle and that Member States, in addition to assessing whether specific military technology might be used for internal repression or other undesired ends, should also assess risks based on the overall situation in the country of destination such as state of its democracy, rule-of-law and socio-economic development;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. In line with its recommendations of 13 September 2017, calls on the Member States and the EEAS to use the current review process to strengthen mechanisms for exchange of information by making available qualitatively and quantitatively better information for export licensing risk assessments, as follows: (a) providing more information on export licences and actual exports shared systematically and in a timely manner, including on end users of concern, cases of diversion, end-user certificates that are forged or otherwise of concern, and suspect brokers or transport companies, in accordance with domestic laws; (b) maintaining a list of entities and individuals convicted of violating arms export-related legislation, of cases of identified diversion, and of persons who are known or suspected to be involved in illegal arms trading or in activities that pose a threat to international and national security; (c) sharing the best practices adopted for implementing the eight criteria; (d) turning the current User’s Guide into an interactive online resource; (e) turning the EU Annual Report into an open and public online database by the end of 2019, with the new format to be applied to the 2017 data; (f) promoting clear, well-established cooperation procedures between law enforcement agencies and border authorities, based on the exchange of information, in order to strengthen cooperation on security and eradicate illegal arms trading, which poses a risk to the security of the EU and its citizens;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. 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 use of EU funds for capacity-building among licensing and enforcement officials in Member States;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 c (new)

– having regard to Human Rights Council Report of 17 August 2018 on the situation of human rights in Yemen, including violations and abuses since September 2014 (A/HRC/39/43),

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that one of the reasons for establishing the Common Position was to prevent European weaponry from being used against Member States’ armed forces and to prevent human rights abuses and the prolongation of armed conflict; reiterates that the Common Position sets minimum requirements which Member States have to apply in the field of arms export controls and that the Common Position includes the obligation to assess a request for an export licence against all eight criteria listed in it;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that one of the reasons for establishing the Common Position was to prevent European weaponry from being used against Member States’ armed forces and to prevent human rights abuses and the prolongation of armed conflict; reiterates that the ~~Common Position includes the~~ obligation to assess a request for an export licence ~~against all eight criteria listed in it~~is a matter for the Member States to decide;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Criticises the violations of the eight criteria by Member States and the fact that military technology does sometimes reach destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria laid down in the Common Position; considers that uniform and consistent application of the eight criteria should be promoted; regrets the lack of provisions on sanctions to be imposed on Member States that fail to comply with the eight criteria when granting licences and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;deleted

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Criticises the violations of the eight criteria by Member States and the fact that military technology does sometimes reach destinations and end users that do not~~ Repeats its call for an independent assessmeent ~~the criteria laid down in the Common Position; considers that uniform and consistent application of the eight criteria should be promoted~~of Member State’s compliance with the eight criteria of the Common Position; regrets the lack of provisions on sanctions to be imposed on Member States that fail to comply with the eight criteria when granting licences and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Criticis~~Notes the violations of the eight criteria by Member States and the fact that military technology does sometimes reach destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria laid down in the Common Position; considers that uniform and consistent application of the eight criteria should be promoted; ~~regrets the lack of provisions on sanctions to be imposed on Member States that fail to comply with the eight criteria when granting licences~~urges the Member States to improve the consistency of the implementation of the Common Position and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Criticises the ~~violations of~~systematic failure to apply the eight criteria by some Member States and the fact that military technology does sometimes reach destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria laid down in the Common Position; ~~considers that uniform and consistent~~takes the view that greater convergence in the application of the eight criteria should be promoted; regrets the lack of provisions on sanctions to be imposed on Member States that fail to c~~omply~~heck compliance with the eight criteria ~~when~~in advance of granting licences and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Criticises the ~~violations of~~systematic failure to apply the eight criteria by Member States and the fact that military technology does sometimes reach destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria laid down in the Common Position; ~~considers that uniform and consistent~~takes the view that greater convergence in the application of the eight criteria should be promoted; regrets the lack of provisions ~~on sanctions to be imposed on~~to deal with Member States that fail to c~~omply~~heck compliance with the eight criteria ~~when~~in advance of granting licences and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Criticises the violations of the eight criteria by Member States and the fact that military technology does ~~sometimes~~ reach destinations and end users that do not meet the criteria laid down in the Common Position; c~~onsiders that~~alls for a uniform and consistent application of the eight criteria ~~should be promoted~~; regrets the lack of provisions on sanctions to be imposed on Member States that fail to comply with the eight criteria when granting licences and advises the Member States to make provision for arrangements to conduct independent checks;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Believes that exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, are non-compliant with at least criterion 2 because of the countries' involvement in grave breaches of humanitarian law as established by competent UN authorities; re-iterates its call from 13 September 2017 on the urgent need to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia and calls on HR/VP and the Council to extend such an embargo also to all other members of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital –A (new)

-A. whereas the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence is laid down in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Believes it necessary to launch a process leading to a mechanism which sanctions those Member States which do not comply with the Common Position;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Notes that some Member States have stopped providing arms to Saudi Arabia and other members of the Saudi- led coalition in Yemen because of their actions while others have continued supplying military technology; congratulates those Members States such as Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, which changed their practise as regards the Yemen conflict; deeply regrets, however, the fact that other Member States seem to not take into account the behaviour of the country of destination and the end-use of exported arms and ammunitions; underlines that this disparity of practice is at risk undermining the entire European arms control regime;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is alarmed by the fact that 97.2 % of licence requests for exports to Egypt and Saudi Arabia were granted even though exports into both countries violate at least criteria 1 to 6 of the Common Position, and bearing in mind that failure to meet criteria 1 to 4 must lead to a denial of the licence; regrets that almost all licence applications (95 %) for exports to Saudi Arabia have been granted as regards category ML919(i.e. vessels of war) exports, which are used to enforce the naval blockade on Yemen, contributing to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to the ongoing suffering of the population of Yemen; _________________ 19Vessels of war (surface or underwater), special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:5201 6XG0406(01)&from=ENdeleted

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is alarmed by the fact that 97.2 % of licence requests for exports to Egypt and Saudi Arabia were granted even though exports into both countries violate at least criteria 1 to 6 of the Common Position, and bearing in mind that failure to meet criteria 1 to 4 must lead to a denial of the licence; regrets that almost all licence applications (95 %) for exports to Saudi Arabia have been granted as regards category ML919 (i.e. vessels of war) exports, which are used to enforce the naval blockade on Yemen, contributing to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to the ongoing suffering of the population of Yemen; _________________ 19Vessels of war (surface or underwater), special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:5201 6XG0406(01)&from=ENdeleted

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is alarmed by the fact that 97.2 % of licence requests for exports to Egypt and Saudi Arabia were granted even though exports into both countries violate at least criteria 1 to 6 of the Common Position, and bearing in mind that failure to meet criteria 1 to 4 must lead to a denial of the licence; rRegrets that almost all licence applications (95 %) for exports to Saudi Arabia have been granted as regards category ML919 (i.e. vessels of war) exports, which are used to enforce the naval blockade on Yemen, contributing to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to the ongoing suffering of the population of Yemen; _________________ 19 Vessels of war (surface or underwater), special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016 XG0406(01)&from=EN

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is alarmed by the fact that 97.2 % of licence requests for exports to Egypt and Saudi Arabia were granted even though exports into both countries violate ~~at least~~ criteria 1 to 67 of the Common Position, and bearing in mind that failure to meet criteria 1 to 4 must lead to a denial of the licence; regrets that almost all licence applications (95 %) for exports to Saudi Arabia have been granted as regards category ML919 (~~i.e.~~ vessels of war~~) exports~~[1]), which are used to enforce the naval blockade on Yemen, and categories ML10 (aircraft) and ML4 (bombs etc.), which have been fundamental to the air campaign, contributing to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, the sustainable development of the whole country and to the ongoing suffering of the population of Yemen; _________________ 19 Vessels of war (surface or underwater), special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016 XG0406(01)&from=EN

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is alarmed by the fact that 97.2 % of licence requests for exports to Egypt and Saudi Arabia were granted even though exports into both countries violate at least criteria 1 to 6 of the Common Position, and bearing in mind that failure to meet criteria 1 to 4 must lead to a denial of the licence; regrets that almost all licence applications (95 %) for exports to Saudi Arabia have been granted as regards category ML919 (i.e. vessels of war) exports, which are used to enforce the naval blockade on Yemen, contributing to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to the ongoing suffering of the population of Yemen; notes that some Member States have effectively halted their arms exports to Saudi Arabia; _________________ 19 Vessels of war (surface or underwater), special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016 XG0406(01)&from=EN

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Is shocked by the amount of EU- made weapons and ammunitions found in the hands of Da’esh in Syria and Iraq; notes the failure of Bulgaria and Romania to effectively apply the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on arms exports, in relation to retransfers that contravene end-user certificates; calls on all Member States to refuse similar transfers in the future, notably to the US and Saudi Arabia, and calls on the EEAS and the Member States, in particular Bulgaria and Romania, to explain, in the context of COARM but also in public in the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), what steps have been taken on this matter; calls on the EEAS to address the many cases revealed by the recent Conflict Armament Research report and to explore more effective methods for diversion risk assessment in COARM and relevant fora, including making it, in the context of the review process, an obligation for Member States to deny an export licence if there is a clear risk that the military technology or equipment to be exported might be diverted; decides to launch an investigation into this matter;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is concerned that the proliferation of weapon systems in wartime and in situations of significant political tension may disproportionately affect civilians; is alarmed at the global arms race and at military approaches to solving political conflict and turmoil; underlines that conflicts should be solved by diplomatic means as a priority;deleted

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is concerned about the export of arms to Turkey, which uses them against the Kurdish population in the SE provinces of the country and, at the same time, threatens to use them against two EU Member States, Greece and Cyprus; is concerned that the proliferation of weapon systems in wartime and in situations ofwith significant political tension, may disproportionately affect civilians; is alarmed at the global arms race and at military approaches to solving political conflict and turmoil; underlines that conflicts should be solved by diplomatic means as a priority;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas arms exports and transfers have an undeniable impact on human rights and human security, on socio- economic development and on democracy; whereas arms exports also contribute to circumstances that force people to flee from their countries; whereas these are strong reasons for establishingrequire a strict, transparent, effective and ~~common~~internationally accepted and defined arms control system;

Amendment 70 #

Eugen FREUND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is concerned that the proliferation of weapon systems in wartime and in situations of significant political tension may disproportionately affect civilians; ~~is alarmed at the global arms race and at military approaches to solving political conflict and turmoil;~~ underlines that conflicts should be solved by diplomatic means as a priority;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is concerned that the proliferation of weapon systems in wartime and in situations of significant political tension may disproportionately affect civilians; ~~is alarmed at the global arms race~~underlines that conflicts should be solved by diplomatic means as a priority; and that military approaches to solving political conflict and turmoil~~; underlines that conflicts should be solved by~~ should be considered only once the diplomatic means a~~s a priority~~re exhausted;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Is concerned that the ~~proliferation~~supply of weapon systems in wartime and in situations of significant political tension may disproportionately affect civilians; is alarmed at the global arms race and at military approaches to solving political conflict and turmoil; underlines that conflicts should be solved by diplomatic means as a priority;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Recognises that better implementation of criterion 8 would constitute a decisive contribution to the EU’s Policy Coherence on Development objectives and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16.4; calls on Member States and the EEAS to use the ongoing review process of the Common Position in this respect; recommends to update the User’s Guide in this respect and to focus not only on the developmental impact of the purchase of arms on the recipient country, but also on the potential development harm done by the use of arms, including in countries other than the recipient;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Suggests that ways should be explored for the EU to support the Member States in their compliance with the eight criteria of the common position, in particular by providing information during the risk assessment phase, checks on the end users, ex-ante checks on shipments and a regularly updated list of the third countries that comply with the criteria of the common position;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Insists, in the light of the Common Position review process, that support should be voiced for powerful, clear and unambiguous wording in the Common Position in order to avoid differing interpretations and applications of the criteria; urges that the Common Position’s review examine how the Common Position is implemented at national level, including an assessment of the different ways in which the Common Position is implemented in states’ laws and regulations, the methods used to assess licence applications and the government agencies and ministries that are involved; stresses, in this connection, that projects funded with the newly launched EDIDP and the future Defence Fund, must come under national and EU control and reporting mechanisms/regimes and be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny;deleted

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Insists, in the light of the Common Position review process, that support should be voiced for powerful, clear and unambiguous wording in the Common Position in order to avoid differing interpretations and applications of the criteria;Notes that the Council conducts the reassessment of the implementation of Common Position and the fulfilment of its objectives in2018; , urges that the Common Position’s re~~view~~assessment of the implementation examines how the Common Position is implemented at national level, including an assessment of the different ways in which the Common Position is implemented in states’ laws and regulations, the methods used to assess licence applications and the government agencies and ministries that are involved; stresses, in this connection, that projects funded with the newly launched EDIDP and the future Defence Fund, must come under national and EU control and reporting mechanisms/regimes and be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas arms exports and transfers have an undeniable impact on human rights - when sold to regimes that violate these rights - and human security, on socio- economic development and on democracy; whereas arms exports also contribute to circumstances that force people to flee from their countries when governments use them against their own people; whereas these are strong reasons for establishing a strict, transparent, effective and commonly accepted and defined arms control system;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Insists, in the light of the Common Position review process, that support should be voiced for powerful, clear and unambiguous wording in the Common Position in order to avoid differing interpretations and applications of the criteria; ~~urges that~~calls for the Common Position’s review to examine how the Common Position is implemented at national level, ~~including an assessment of the different ways in which the Common Position is implemented in states’ laws and regulations,~~ the methods used to assess licence applications and the government agencies and ministries that are involved; stresses, in this connection, that projects funded with the newly launched EDIDP and the future Defence Fund, must come under national and EU control and reporting mechanisms/regimes and be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Insists, in the light of the Common Position review process, that support should be voiced for powerful, clear and unambiguous wording in the Common Position in order to avoid differing interpretations and applications of the criteria; urges that the Common Position’s review examine how the Common Position is implemented at national level, including an assessment of the different ways in which the Common Position is implemented in states’ laws and regulations and the particular characteristics of these states, the methods used to assess licence applications and the government agencies and ministries that are involved; stresses, in this connection, that projects funded with the newly launched EDIDP and the future Defence Fund, must come under national and EU control and reporting mechanisms/regimes and be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Underlines that with regard to results generated by recipients of the future European Defence Fund, the Commission shall be notified of any grant of a licence to third countries and shall guarantee that such licences do not contravene the defence and security interests of the Union and its Member States, the objectives of this Regulation, the eight criteria of the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and the criteria of the Dual-Use Regulation; calls for coordination between the Commission and COARM on the matter;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Member States to overcome the current lack of efficiency in defence spending due to duplication, fragmentation, lack of interoperability and to aim for the EU to become a security provider also by better controlling arms exports;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Praises its position adopted on 28 January 2018 on the regulation establishing the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) with regards to Article 6, paragraph 4 b, which prohibits actions in relation to small arms and light weapons, when they are developed mainly for export purposes; calls for an identical approach in the context of the upcoming regulation establishing the European Defence Fund (EDF);

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Supports that in the context of Brexit, it would be important for the United Kingdom to commit to remain bound by the Common Position and to apply its operative provisions as other European third countries do;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria ~~as they take precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States~~; points out that the development of defence equipment is an important way to boost the industrial and technological basis for European defence, and takes the view that the defence industry should serve as a tool for supporting the CFSP;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must ~~not undermine the application of~~also acknowledge the Common Position’s eight criteria ~~as they take precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States~~;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence ~~sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria as they take pr~~is a priority whose goal is to maintain the strategic autonomy, and therefore independence, of those member states which possess it, an autonomy which is the result of deceade~~nce over any economic social, commercial~~s of investment in research and development and orf industrial ~~interests of Member States~~activity;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria as they take precedence over any economic ~~social~~, commercial, social or industrial interests of Member States;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas arms exports and transfers have an ~~undeniable~~ impact on human rights and human security, on socio- economic development and on democracy; ~~whereas arms exports also contribute to circumstances that force people to flee from their countries;~~ whereas these are strong reasons for establishing a strict, transparent, effective and commonly accepted and defined arms control system;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Takes the view that, because of the negative impact of arms spending on the development prospects of poorer recipient countries, criterion 8 should be upgraded by making denial of export licences automatic if they are incompatible with development;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that the implementation of Directive 2009/43/EC simplifying terms and conditions of transfers of defence- related products within the Community should be consistent with the Common Position, including with regard to spare parts and components; notes that the Common Position is non-restrictive in scope and that, accordingly, the eight criteria also apply to exports within the EU;deleted

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates the detrimental effect that the uncontrolled export of cyber- surveillance technologies by EU companies can have on the security of the EU’s digital infrastructure and on human rights; stresses, in this connection, the importance of a rapid, effective and comprehensive update of the EU’s Dual- Use Regulation, recalls Parliament’s position regarding the Commission’s proposal as endorsed by an overwhelming majority in January 2018, and calls on the Council to rapidly establish an ambitious position with a view to enabling the co-legislators to reach an agreement before the end of this legislative term; cCalls on the Member States, with regard to export controls and application of the eight criteria, to pay greater attention to goods which may be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as surveillance technology and, similarly, to spare parts and products that may be used in cyber warfare or to perpetrate non-lethal human rights abuses;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates the detrimental effect that the uninsufficiently controlled export of cyber- surveillance technologies by EU companies can have on the security of the EU’s digital infrastructure and on compliance with human rights; stresses, in this connection, the importance of a rapid, effective and comprehensive update of the EU’s Dual- Use Regulation, recalls Parliament’s position regarding the Commission’s proposal as endorsed by an overwhelming majority in January 2018, and ~~calls on~~suggests that the Council ~~to rapidly~~should establish a~~n ambitious~~ position with a view to enabling the co- legislators to reach an agreement before the end of this legislative term; calls on the Member States, with regard to export controls ~~and~~to appl~~ication of~~y the eight criteria, and to pay ~~greate~~particular attention to goods which may be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as surveillance technology and, similarly, to ~~spare parts and produc~~components that may be used in cyber warfare ~~or to perpetrate non-lethal human rights abuses~~with the potential to violate human rights; calls on the Member States to promote, at international level, the addition of these goods to control lists (in particular Wassenaar);

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates the detrimental effect that the uncontrolled export of cyber- surveillance technologies by EU companies can have on the security of the EU’s digital infrastructure and on human rights; stresses, in this connection, the importance of a rapid, effective and comprehensive update of the EU’s Dual- Use Regulation, recalls Parliament’s position regarding the Commission’s proposal as endorsed by an overwhelming majority in January 2018, and calls on the Council to rapidly establish an ambitious position with a view to enabling the co- legislators to reach an agreement before the end of this legislative term; calls on the Member States~~, with regard to export controls and application of the eight criteria,~~ to pay greater attention to goods which may be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as surveillance technology and, similarly, to spare parts and products that may be used in cyber warfare or to perpetrate non-lethal human rights abuses;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates the detrimental effect that the uncontrolled export of cyber- surveillance technologies by EU companies can have on the security of the EU’s digital infrastructure and on human rights; stresses, in this connection, the importance of a rapid, effective and comprehensive update of the EU’s Dual- Use Regulation, recalls Parliament’s position regarding the Commission’s proposal as endorsed by an overwhelming majority in January 2018, and calls on the Council to rapidly establish an ambitious position with a view to enabling the co- legislators to reach an agreement before the end of this legislative term; calls on the Member States, with regard to export controls and application of the eight criteria, to pay greater attention to goods which may be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as surveillance technology and, similarly, to spare parts and products that may be used in cyber warfare or to perpetrate ~~non-lethal~~ human rights ~~abuse~~violations;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Urges Member States and the Commission to invest sufficient funds in technology and human resources to train individuals in specific cybersecurity programmes and methods in order to prevent cyber-attacks and address cybersecurity challenges;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Encourages the Member States to undertake a more detailed examination of licensed production by third countries and to ensure stronger safeguards against undesired uses; demands the strict application of the Common Position with regard to licensed production in third countries; calls for limiting licensed production arrangements to countries that are parties or signatories to the ATT, and to oblige these third countries to only export equipment produced under licence with the explicit authority of the original exporting Member State;

Amendment 99 #