25 Amendments of Michael GAHLER related to 2015/2114(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas there is an inherent right of individual or collective self-defence according to Art. 51 of the Charter of the UN;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in the interests of international stability, it is important to provide a balance of deterrence on a case- by-case assessment;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Supports the supply of defensive arms in case of a legitimate self-defence; welcomes the decision of some Member States to supply defensive arms to the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan and to Ukraine;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Finds regrettable, notwithstanding the numerous arms export control regimes, that developments in the last two years have shown that weapons often end up in the hands of repressive regimes, armed groups and violent non-state actors, terrorists and criminals, and are used toConsiders that developments in the last two years in the neighbourhood of the Union have demonstrated the need to adopt effective arms export control regimes; condemns the use of arms with the aim of fuelling insecurity and armed conflicts internally and externally, or to support internal repression, regional conflicts and grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that EU Member States are major global arms exporters, accounting for EUR 36.7 billion in exports in 2013, of which EUR 26.7 billion is to non-EU countries; considers that the defence industry should aim to primarily ensurConsiders arms exports to be essential in order to strengthen the industrial and technological base of European defence; recalls that the defence industry has the aim of maintaining the defence and security of EUthe Member States; is seriously concerned by th of the Union while contributing towards the implementation of the European Common Security and Defence Policy; alerts Member States to the possible consequences for the security and defence of the EU caused by the transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology to third countries;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that, while denials and suspensions of licences following embargos or conflicts and revolutions such as the Arab Spring are a positive sign, they indicate that the EU export policy is merely reactive in chaconsiders that the Member States should fully take into account EU´s stracter; considers that a more thorough assessmentgic interests and be based on a thorough assessment according to the Common Position of the specific risks associated with recipient countries would be necessary before licensing;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the risks deriving from diversions, smuggling and the stockpiling of arms are increasing; stresses the risks that arms exported to third countries might be re-introduced into Europe with unprecedented ease and speed owimain a challenge to increased arms smuggling and enhanced mobility, thus compromising the security of citizens as was highlighted in a recent EUROPOL report16 be addressed; welcomes the review of the EU legislation on firearms and the intention to strengthen police cooperation with neighbouring countries on arms smuggling; __________________ 16 Exploring Tomorrow’s Organised Crime, 2015, Europol
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that arms export controls are an integral part of EU foreign and security policy and shall be guided by the principles enshrined in Article 21 of TEU, notably the promotion of democracy and the rule of law and preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security; recalls that arms exports might affect the credibility of the EU as a global human rights advocate; calls for the new EU global strategy on foreign and security policy to properly consider arms export issues in view of the changed European interests in current security environment and associated risks and threats;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores that irresponsiblellicit or unregulated arms transfers continue tomay hinder democratic, economic and social development in manycertain parts of the world; recognises that the effective implementation of Criterion Eight would be a decisive contributione to the EU’s Policy Coherence on Development objectives;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the requirement that states parties to the ATT take into account in the licence decision-making process the risk that the weapons to be transferred may be used to commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children; calls on the Member States to introduce this conditwelcomes the fact that this condition is covered by the second criterion into the Common Position;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Commends the fact that the EU has a legally binding framework, unique in the world, through which arms export control is being enforced, including in crisis regions and countries with questionable human rights records; and welcomes the fact, in this connection, that several European and third countries have joined the arms exports control system on the basis of the Common Position;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Welcomes the fact that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Norway have aligned themselves with the criteria and principles of the Common Position 2008/944CFSP; notes that a special information exchange system between the EU and the aligned third countries has been in place since 2012;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that the Common Position does not affect the right of Member States to operate more restrictive national policiesshould lead to a coordinated approach to arms trade and that the common standards set by the Common Position are to be regarded as the minimum standard for the management of transfers of military technology according to recital 3; points out that harmonisation at the European level should only lead to a more restrictive arms export policy at national level and not be used as a pretext for watering down stricter national rulenotes, however, that the eight criteria are applied and interpreted with varying degrees of rigour in the EU Member States; calls, therefore, for more uniform interpretation and implementation of the Common Position with all its obligations;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes COARM’s review of Common Position 2008/944 and the conclusion that it properly serves the objectives set by the Council, and that it is in line with the ATT; expresses concern that Member States thought that no change was necessary despite weaknesses in arms exports policies exposed by the Arab Spring;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note of the update of the User’s Guide to the Council Common Position and of the EU Military List; looks forward to the adoption of a new online information-sharing mechanism by COARM; welcomes the new references made to aspects of the ATT which are not yet included in the Common Position and the changes to the elaborative guidance to Criterion Seven; is disappointed that changes to the guidance on implementing the other criteria have been limited, in particular with regard to Criterion Eight despite widespread difficulties in its effective implementation;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to ensure a stricteruniform application of the eight criteria; believes that Member States including at European level in COARM should broadenare making their assessments to include a focusin full compliance with the Common Position on the situation in the country of destination as well as on the specific military technology in question; encourages Member States to apply stricter national criteria;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need to ensure a more coherent policy on embargos; calls on Member States to eliminate any ambiguities in their systems but also at the level of the Wassenaar Arrangement concerning the export of ‘military’ and ‘non-military’ arms, which could lead to small arms transfers being able to circumvenclarify national and international provisions relating to the export of ‘military’ and ‘non-military’ arms in order to control more effectively the transfer of arms regarded as ‘non- military’; recalls that rRegulation systems through being described as ‘non-military’(EU) No 258/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing Article 10 of the United Nations’ Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms is intended to control effectively transfers of firearms for civil use;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is concerned by the possible diversions of exports and by the lack of effective controls on end users, and calls on Member States to establish an effective control system (common monitoring system, non-misuse clause in end-user certificates, mandatory physical inspections of end users); cCalls on the Council to better align Criterion Seven to Article 11 of the ATT to avoid diversions of exports;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Finds regrettableNotes that only 21 Member States made full submissions to the 16th Annual Report; deplores that Greece has not provided any data and that Germany and the UK did not submit any data on actual arms exports and that France provided a total figure for arms exports which was not disaggregatedcalls on the remaining Member States to fulfil their obligation to report annually and provide data for the 16th Annual Report retrospectively and for the forthcoming Annual Reports in due time;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for enhancedWelcomes the consultations between the Member States with regard to transfers to fragile and unstable regions or countries; calls on the Member States to establish and publish a list of persons (including entities and individuals) that have been convicted of violating arms- export-related legislation and of cases of identified diversion; calls on the Member States to provide detailed information in due time on procedures for the revocation or suspension of granted licences with regard to countries subject to an embargo;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Strongly believes that theCalls for the reports to be kept public; considers that parliaments and citizens have the right to be informed about the arms export decisions of their governments asin they affect the security and well-being of their nation interests of transparency and greater public scrutiny;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for parliamentary oversight to be strengthened both at national and European level through annual reports in Parliament; calls for European arms exports as part of the European industrial defence policy to be discussed at the next Inter- Parliamentary Conference on CFSP/CSDP;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses also the essential role ofWelcomes the regular consultation with civil society in increasing transparency; calls on the Commission and the EEAS/COARM to continue to deepen ithis dialogue with civil society and relevant think tanks;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that technological developments make it increasingly more difficult to distinguish between pure military and pure civilian use; calls on the VP/HR, the Member States and the Commission to ensure that there are no loopholescoherence at the level of the Wassenaar Arrangement and between the Military List and the Annexes of the Dual-Use Regulation and to pay particular attention to new technology of strategic importance such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and surveillance technology;