B4-0502, 0505, 0520, 0522, 0529 and 0546/98

Resolution on a code of conduct for arms exports

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on an EU code of conduct on the export or transfer of arms, especially its resolution of 15 January 1998 ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 11.)) and the resolution adopted by the ACP/EU Joint Assembly on 21 April 1998,

A. whereas the UK and French governments have taken the initiative to establish an EU code of conduct on arms sales and have circulated a draft proposal for such a code, with the intention of securing agreement at the General Affairs Council on 25 May 1998,

B. noting that one of the major aims of the code of conduct should be to prevent the flow of arms from EU Member States to countries which violate human rights, to regions of instability and to major aggressors,

C. emphasizing that the present proposal for the code of conduct must be considered as a first major step towards further restricting exports from the European Union and towards true multilateral regulation of arms exports, but concerned that the final draft proposal should set the common standards sufficiently high and leave no room for subjective interpretation, provide strong consultation mechanisms and make reference to parliamentary scrutiny with adequate provisions for controlling third-party brokering and end-use,

D. convinced that any such code of conduct will be all the more successful when the other main arms exporters, such as the USA, but also the Russian Federation and China, agree to similar rules,

1. Welcomes the initiative to establish a code of conduct for arms transfers as well as the intensive negotiations which are taking place to arrive at an agreement during the British Presidency;

2. Calls on the Council and the Member States, however, to improve the prevailing situation by agreeing on consultation mechanisms which ensure that all Member States are swiftly informed of approvals and denials of export licences, and that any Member State intending to undercut a decision by another is obliged to inform and consult with all other Member States about its intention;

3. Calls on Member States to ensure that the export guidelines clearly state the precise circumstances under which export licences should be denied and that licences will not be granted for the export of equipment which may be used for internal repression and human rights violations;

4. Calls on Member States to agree a comprehensive list of military and dual-use goods to which the code will apply;

5. Calls on the Council and the Member States to improve the draft proposal by ensuring transparency and parliamentary scrutiny at EU level by presenting to Parliament an annual report for public debate on the basis of the Member States¨ reports;

6. Encourages the Member States with stricter arms export criteria to uphold their national policies;

7. Asks that the code should include measures to establish an EU system of certifying and monitoring end-use provisions so as to ensure that, once exported, arms remain with the stated end-user and are not used in contravention of end-use assurances and the code's export guidelines;

8. Calls on the Council to adopt such a code as a Common Position leading to a series of Joint Actions;

9. Calls on the Council and the Member States to encourage third countries, especially the associated countries, to sign the code of conduct and to take steps with a view to obtaining similar policies by the other main arms exporters;

10. Calls for the inclusion in the code of a clause on the subject of the export of arms to countries which do not abide by the UN Agreement on the Arms Register;

11. Calls on the Council to give more attention to combating the illegal arms trade and urges the Council to adhere to the undertaking it gave in June 1997 to revise the current programme within a year and to adopt a concrete, effective programme of action;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.