A look into the 16th Annual Report on Arms Exports
The EU annual reports on arms exports was published in the EU official journal on 27 March 2015. The report informs in detail on arms sales authorised by EU Member States in 2013 and on activities of the EU Council working party on conventional arms exports (COARM) in 2013 and 2014.
Arms exports licensed by EU Member States in 2013 totalled 36 bn €. EU Member States altogether make around 30 % of arms exports. Compared to the two largest arms exporters, this volume is smaller than the USA (35%) but larger than Russia (25%).
The EU framework regulating arms exports (EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP) promotes transparency in arms exports and tasks the EU Council to publish every year a comprehensive report on arms exports licensed by EU Member States. This report is prepared by the EEAS based on data provided by the Member States.
In line with this support to transparency in arms trade, the EU has actively engaged in the promotion of the UN Arms Trade Treaty that entered into force on 24 December 2014. The first Conference of ATT States parties is taking place in Mexico on 24-27 August 2015 and is notably expected to fine-tune the reporting and transparency obligations of States parties. All EU Member States have signed the ATT and so far 26 have ratified it.
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