VP/HR — Review of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment

26.3.2012

Question for written answer E-003204/2012
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Tarja Cronberg (Verts/ALE)

Article 15 of EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP states that ‘this Common Position shall be reviewed three years after its adoption’. In late 2011 the relevant EU working group, COARM, initiated the review process.

In view of the above:

• 1.How long is the review expected to take? How will the proposed timing take account of the Arms Trade Treaty negotiation timetable?
• 2.Have the terms of reference for the review been agreed ? If not, when will they be agreed? Will they be circulated to the Committee? Will they be made public, and if so, when?
• 3.What provision is being made for formal consultations with external stakeholders as part of the review? What role does COARM envisage for stakeholders such as parliamentarians (national and European), industry and NGOs?
• 4.Will interim findings/proposals be formulated and made available to external stakeholders for their response?
• 5.Will the review consider the text and/or implementation of the Common Position? Is the content of the User’s Guide up for review?
• 6.How will the ultimate outcomes of the review be made public?

OJ C 240 E, 21/08/2013