Предложение за резолюция - B6-0063/2008Предложение за резолюция
B6-0063/2008
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

13.2.2008

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers - failure of the Council to adopt the Common Position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument

Процедура : 2008/2514(RSP)
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B6-0063/2008
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B6-0063/2008
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B6‑0063/2008

European Parliament resolution on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers - failure of the Council to adopt the Common Position and transform the Code into a legally binding instrument

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas in 2008 the European Union Code on Arms Exports will celebrate its tenth anniversary,

B.  whereas on 30 June 2005, the COARM (Council Working Group on Arms) agreed at technical level on the text for a Common Position which was the result of a long-lasting process to revise the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers with the aim of transforming the Code into an efficient instrument to control arms exports from EU territory and by EU companies,

C.  whereas the adoption of this Common Position will make the Code a legally binding arms export control instrument for all EU Members,

D.  whereas Parliament has strongly welcomed this Common Position on several occasions, in particular in its resolution of 18 January 2007[1],

E.  whereas the Council has since 2005 failed to adopt this Common Position at the political level, leaving the issue unresolved,

F.  whereas this issue is becoming more and more delicate owing to the following reasons:

  • othe EU Reform Treaty and the European Security Strategy commit the EU to acting as a globally responsible actor in the domain of strategic and humanitarian interests;
  • oseveral initiatives are underway to harmonise national arms procurement policies and intra-Community arms transfers and sales;
  • owhile, despite the hard work and positive efforts of COARM representatives to further improve the Code and its harmonious application, this work is being undermined by the disturbing allegations and reports on arms export deals initiated by the EU Member States with countries in a conflict or post-conflict period, where instability and human rights situations raise doubts about compliance with the Code of Conduct,

G.  whereas failure to reach broader agreement runs contrary to the leadership role which the European Union and its Member States are taking in the promotion of several global treaties and other instruments to control public and private arms transfers,

1.  Finds the current political impasse on the non-adoption of this Common Position disturbing and worrying in the light of this years' tenth anniversary of the European Union Code on Arms Exports;

2.  Insists that the Slovenian presidency should make the adoption of that Common Position a priority on the agenda of GAERC meetings;

3.  Calls on the EU Member States to seek a solution to the current impasse and create the political space to finally complete the long-overdue Code revision process and make the EU arms transfers control regime legally binding for all EU Member States;

4.  Is convinced that the EU's contribution to an internationally binding Arms Trade Treaty will not be fully efficient so long as its own regional instrument does not have proper legal value;

5.  Is convinced, that in parallel with the adoption of the Common Position, action should be taken, inter alia, to:

  • -prevent irresponsible arms transfers by strict application of the Code's criteria by both companies and national armed forces;
  • -improve and apply brokering controls, and prevent illegal arms trafficking by air and sea;
  • -ensure prompt investigation of recent allegations about the violation of arms embargoes;
  • -prevent the selling-off to private brokers of arms collected in the course of ESDP, SSR and other EU humanitarian operations and their transfer to other ESDP sensitive regions;
  • -improve transparency and quality of data and the reporting thereof;

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and all EU governments and parliaments.