More than 25 European civil society organisations are calling on policymakers to prevent the weakening of arms export controls. Negotiations on the EU defence package, including amendments to the Transfer Directive, are at an advanced stage.
Weapons and military technology are not toys or tins of beans.
We would like to reiterate that weapons and military technology cannot simply be traded like toys or tins of beans. EU governments must ensure strict compliance with European and international export controls. Weakening these controls is dangerous: it increases the risk of human rights violations, even though EU countries emphasise that they do not wish to be complicit in such abuses.
The EU must honour its own commitments – without exception.
