The European Arms Exports, Peace, Human Rights and Democracy
- VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THE EVENT (recorded stream)
- READ THE STUDY - Harmonized EU Arms Exports Policies in Times of Austerity?
EU Member States outrank US and Russia as the world’s largest arms exporter. An ever increasing proportion of European arms exports - 61% in 2011 - is being delivered to countries outside the EU. The events around the Arab Spring have shown that EU human rights criteria have not always been respected. The Greens/EFA conference will therefore address the urgent issue of the implementation EU export criteria and the need to reform and strengthen the EU export regime.
9:30-9:35 Opening remarks by Rebecca Harms, Co-President Greens/EFA
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9:35-11:00 FIRST PANEL: Trends in European arms exports and the implementation of eight criteria of the EU Common Position
9:35-45 Introduction by Barbara Lochbihler, MEP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights
9:45-10:05 Presentation of a study commissioned by the Greens/EFA group by Jan Grebe, BICC
10:05- 10:15 Remarks by Pierre-Arnaud LOTTON, EEAS, chair of the Council Working Group on arms exports (COARM)
10:15-10:25 Remarks by An Vranckx, Saferworld
10:25-10:35 Remarks by David Nichols, Amnesty International
10:35-10:50 Reply by Jan Grebe and open debate
10:50-11:00 Concluding remarks by Franziska Brantner, MEP, Greens/EFA spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
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11:00-12:50 SECOND PANEL: Recommendations for a more strict, transparent and well functioning EU arms exports control regime
11:00-11:10 Introduction by Indrek Tarand, MEP, Member of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
11:10-11:20 Recommendations of the study, Jan Grebe, BICC
11:20-11:30 Comments by Marc Bromley, SIPRI
11:30-11:40 Comments by Neil Corney, OMEGA
11:40-11:50 Comments by Albrecht von Wittke, Deputy Head of Unit 414, Export Control of military goods and dual-use items, German Foreign Ministry
11:50-12:00 Comments by Jean-Jacques Woeldgen, European Commission
12:00-12:50 Open debate
12:50-13:00 Conclusions by Tarja Cronberg, MEP, Greens/EFA Spokesperson for Security and Defence
