Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92000E1710

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1710/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Arms exports.** 
  
*Official Journal 081 E , 13/03/2001 P. 0077 - 0077*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1710/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Arms exports

Is the Commission aware that concern has been expressed within the Union about evasion of restraints on arms exports to countries such as Sudan? The problem concerns licensing of arms manufacture to third country producers. Is the Commission taking steps to keep itself informed about this risk and to forestall it? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

Member States have up to now, on the basis of Article 296 (ex-Article 223) of the EC Treaty exempted trade in arms from the scope of application of treaty rules. Therefore, the Commission possesses neither the authority nor the means to monitor the export of armaments or licensing of arms production.

Arms trade is currently dealt with in the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), to which the Commission is fully associated. Under the CFSP the Union adopted a Code of Conduct on arms exports in June 1998 the criteria of which the Member States are pledged to respect.

The Commission is conscious of the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member regarding licensed production agreements in third countries. In fact, such exports could at times amount to exports in disguise to countries where existing export controls would normally not allow them to take place. However, at this time, on the basis of the Union Code of Conduct on arms exports, it is export licences rather than licensed production agreements which are precluded.

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