Member States and the UN Arms Trade Treaty

30.8.2018

Question for written answer E-004411-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Francesc Gambús (PPE)

The EU is a peace project which has delivered the longest period of prosperity and well-being in Europe’s history and, against that backdrop, all its Member States have signed and ratified the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Even so, it appears that adherence to the ATT will be strictly a formality, given that one year ago, the UK’s Supreme Court ruled that the Government selling weapons to Saudi Arabia did not constitute a violation of the treaty, despite the atrocities perpetrated in the civil war which are tearing Yemen apart and have sparked and continue to contribute to a major humanitarian crisis in the country.

1. Is the Commission monitoring Member States’ adherence to both the spirit and the terms of the Treaty?

2. If not, is it considering doing so?

3. In the framework of the development of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), what instruments can the Commission use to monitor the export of arms from Member States?