VP/HR — Italian arms exports to Saudi Arabia
18.1.2018
Question for written answer E-000281-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marietje Schaake (ALDE) , Urmas Paet (ALDE) , Sophia in 't Veld (ALDE) , Jude Kirton-Darling (S&D) , Dennis de Jong (GUE/NGL) , Peter van Dalen (ECR) , Liliana Rodrigues (S&D) , Patricia Lalonde (ALDE) , Molly Scott Cato (Verts/ALE) , Michel Reimon (Verts/ALE) , Pavel Telička (ALDE) , Sofia Sakorafa (GUE/NGL) , Morten Helveg Petersen (ALDE) , Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE) , Luke Ming Flanagan (GUE/NGL) , Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE) , Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE) , Hilde Vautmans (ALDE) , Ivo Vajgl (ALDE) , António Marinho e Pinto (ALDE) , Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL) , Barbara Lochbihler (Verts/ALE) , Claude Turmes (Verts/ALE) , Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL) , Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL) , Javier Nart (ALDE) , Jiří Maštálka (GUE/NGL) , Yana Toom (ALDE) , Stefan Eck (GUE/NGL) , Ana Gomes (S&D) , Elly Schlein (S&D) , Eva Kaili (S&D) , Martina Anderson (GUE/NGL) , Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL) , Matt Carthy (GUE/NGL) , Liadh Ní Riada (GUE/NGL) , Julie Ward (S&D) , Bodil Valero (Verts/ALE) , Maria Heubuch (Verts/ALE) , Nessa Childers (S&D) , Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL) , Soraya Post (S&D) , Franz Obermayr (ENF) , Alyn Smith (Verts/ALE) , Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D) , Bronis Ropė (Verts/ALE)
A recent New York Times investigation tracked bombs manufactured by Italian company RWM to Yemen. The bombs were subsequently used in bombardments by the Saudi air force and have been traced to various attacks on civilian targets and civilian deaths[1].
Is the VP/HR familiar with this specific situation in which MK-80 series bombs were sold to Saudi Arabia, a party engaged in armed conflict, in violation of Italian arms export regulations[2]? Is she aware of other arms exports by EU companies to Saudi Arabia and other actors involved in armed conflict, and can she elaborate on these?
Does the VP/HR agree that arms exports by RWM, and potentially by other companies, that are authorised by the Italian Government or those of other Member States may be in breach of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP? Will she obtain clarification on the above issue from the Italian Prime Minister and Minister of Defence at the earliest possible opportunity?
Following repeated calls by Parliament, including in November 2017, will the VP/HR make sure that an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia is prioritised during the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council to be held on 22 January 2018?