About: Arms Exports

SEDE rapporteur: EU badly needs common rules, transparency in arms export

The EU is currently the second-largest arms supplier in the world, after the US and before Russia, and a new European Parliament report by MEP Hannah Neumann (Greens) is set to urge the Commission and member states to address concerns over the lack of transparency and common arms export rules across the bloc.

EU should put human life over profits of arms industry

Almost five years after the start of the Saudi-led intervention, the war in Yemen still rages on. While thousands have died, one actor that has fared well: the European arms industry, write Hans Lammerant and Bram Vranken.

France and Germany ink compromise on arms export rules

After struggling to find a common line on arms exports, Paris and Berlin reached  a compromise on Wednesday (16 October) during a bilateral ministerial meeting in the French city of Toulouse.

Loiseau: Without arms exports, there won’t be a European defence industry

A newly created Commission department dedicated to the defence and space industries has given new momentum to the EU's defence union project. Nathalie Loiseau, head of the European Parliament’s defence committee, answered questions about where the sector is heading.

France continues to flourish on EU arms sales market

An increasing number of EU member states is buying weapons 'made in France'. After its exports were high in 2018, France is even expected to top those numbers in 2019. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.

European arms exports on the rise

France, Germany and Spain are among the world’s leading arms exporters. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.

International arms trade shoots up to highest level since end of Cold War

Global arms deals have reached their highest level since the end of the Cold War, according to one study. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Juncker postpones controversial export control bill on surveillance technology

Jean-Claude Juncker intervened today (20 September) to postpone a controversial trade bill that would have made it more difficult for EU countries to export surveillance software, marking the second time this month that the Commission chief pulled the brakes on a high-profile technology file.

Germany’s refugee policy: ‘Borders on cynicism’

Arms exports to Saudi Arabia, the return of refugees to Afghanistan and the deal with Turkey: Germany's peace institutes have come out firing against many of Germany's more controversial policies. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

MEPs call for European arms embargo

Following the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, two French MEPs have called for tighter restrictions on weapons in the EU. EURACTIV France reports.

Why Russia accepted the Mistral agreement

The head of French defence and security has revealed why Russia accepted an agreement on the non-delivery of two Mistral warships that appeared to let France come out on top. La Tribune reports.

Nations using child soldiers are invited to British arms fair

Britain is continuing to defy the UN by selling arms to countries where child soldiers are routinely used or where youngsters are targeted in war zones.

NGO: German firms mired in worst Greek corruption scandals since WWII

Siemens, Daimler, and Rheinmetall have been mired in cases of alleged corruption in Greece, the country that Berlin has repeatedly admonished for the parlous state of its economy.

Parliament votes on surveillance tech exports after fresh Hacking Team leaks

Leaked documents posted to Italian cybersecurity company Hacking Team's Twitter account on Sunday (5 July) revealed what appear to be the firms' government clients.

Merkel, Modi aim for free trade agreement between EU and India

In Berlin, Germany and India expressed their intention to work together more closely on economic and political matters, while emphasising closer cooperation on military sales. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany debates role of Bundestag in approving arms shipments to Iraq

The German government has announced its intention to send weapons to northern Iraq to support the offensive against radical Islamist forces, but the move has sparked debate over the Bundestag's participation in such decisions. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Social Democrats pledge to curb German arms exports

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel has vowed a much more cautious approach to licensing arms exports, unnerving the sizeable defence industry and signalling a change in policy from the previous coalition government under which sales rose.

NATO-Serbia relations: New strategies or more of the same?

The Serbian government will soon have to clarify to its citizens its policy of neutrality towards NATO, argues Jelena Radoman, a research fellow at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.

Crossick: Lifting arms embargo can break EU-China stalemate

Although the EU will enter today's (30 November) EU-China summit with a revamped outlook provided by the Lisbon Treaty, no major turning point should be expected from the meeting unless Europe commits itself to lifting its arms embargo against China, argues Stanley Crossick, founding chairman of the European Policy Centre (EPC), in an interview with EURACTIV.

Lifting arms embargo can break EU-China stalemate, says expert

Although the EU will enter today's (30 November) EU-China summit with a revamped outlook provided by the Lisbon Treaty, no major turning point should be expected from the meeting unless Europe commits itself to lifting its arms embargo against China, argues Stanley Crossick, founding chairman of the European Policy Centre (EPC), in an interview with EURACTIV.

EU pledges to end trade in small arms

The project for an international Treaty on Arms Trade, which aims to outlaw the trade in small arms such as rifles, pistols, machine guns and grenades, has won official EU support.

EU heading for climbdown on China arms embargo

EU momentum to lift the China arms embargo is evaporating in the face of US pressure and the recent Chinese anti-secession law.

Rice warns EU off lifting China arms ban

The possibility of an EU-US trade war moved closer on 20 March when Condoleeza Rice told the EU to drop plans to relax its arms embargo on China.

Brief – French defence minister seeks to calm US nerves over China arms embargo

Strict arms controls will be maintained even after the EU lifts the China embargo, says France's defence minister in a bid to calm US concerns during a Washington visit.