Fanning the Flames: how the EU is fuelling a new arms race
M. Akkerman, P. Brunet, A. Feinstein, T. Fortin, A. Hegarty, J. Rodriguez Alvarez, A. Sidman. Published by ENAAT/TNI, March 2022
This report reveals how the EU’s first defence programmes worth almost €600 million are marred in conflicts of interest, corruption allegations, and fall significantly short of meeting the most basic ethical and legal standards when developing the next generation of weaponry which could radically change the way to conduct war. The same pattern is to be expected with the €8 billion-worth European Defence Fund for 2021-2027.
Read the Executive Summary in NL, EN, FR, DE, IT and SP
A militarised Union – Understanding and confronting the militarisation of the European Union
A. Ruiz, B. Vranken, F. Vignarca, J. Calvo, L. Sédou, W. de Vries. Published by ENAAT/Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, 2021
Also in French, German, Italian and Spanish
Although European governments claim not to export arms to countries at war or those violating human rights, European arms are sold all over the world with very few restrictions. European weapons are often exported to dictatorships or to countries at war. Groups from the European Network Against Arms Trade are discovering and exposing these deals.
Selected publications from ENAAT groups
Campaign Against Arms Trade – Open? The UK’s secret arms sales
What is the total value of the UK arms trade? How much profit does the UK make selling weapons around the world each year to different countries? The UK government claims to have the most ‘rigorous and robust’ arms export controls in the world, but the truth is, it doesn’t record enough information on arms sales to answer even these basic questions. Published 2021.
CDRPC/Observatoire des armements – Contrôle des ventes d’armes: quel rôle pour les parlementaires?
Nouvelle étude comparative sur le contrôle parlementaire des exportations d’armes en Europe qui tente de répondre à cette question: instaurer davantage de transparence et de démocratie dans le domaine du contrôle des exportations d’armes a-t-il un impact sur les décisions de ventes d’armes? (in French. Published 2021)
Centre Delas – Security? Whose security? Military security not neutral
We are facing a new, wide and deep process of militarization, with increasing military budgets, arms manufacturing and an evergrowing military industry that now also expands its reach to borders and social control. But despite the hegemonic discourse, this does not respond to our security needs nor to the challenges our modern, global, interdependent and diverse society faces nowadays.
SPAS – The Swedish arms trade (english abstract from Den Svenska vapenexporten)
This book on Sweden’s arms exports outlines the concepts of how the trade works and who decides. But it also tells about the scandals and the consequences. How artists and the monarchy are used for marketing. And how peaceful Sweden became one of the largest arms exporters per capita in the world. Published 2016.
Stop Fuelling War – La militarisation de la police et du maintien de l’ordre en France
Ces dernières années, les forces de l’ordre (FDO) françaises se sont vues confier davantage d’équipements assimilables à des équipements militaires. La prédominance de la notion d’insécurité dans le débat public et les politiques gouvernementales s’est accompagnée d’une militarisation croissante du maintien de l’ordre en France. La militarisation implique nécessairement une hausse de la violence. Published 2021. (Aussi en anglais: Briefing Paper: police militarisation and policing in France)
Stop Wapenhandel – A Union of Arms Exports: Why European arms keep fuelling war and repression around the world.
This research shows that arms export rules are not applied strictly enough because the supplying countries believe they have an interest in continuing such arms exports. A restrictive arms export policy is systematically pushed aside for strategic and economic interests. Published 2021.
Urgewald – Rheinmetall – Profit first
Krisenzeiten sind Boomzeiten für die Rüstungsindustrie. Auch der größte in Deutschland ansässige Rüstungskonzern Rheinmetall profitiert von weltweiten militärischen Auseinandersetzungen und den steigenden staatlichen Rüstungsbudgets im In- und Ausland. (in German. Published 2021)
Vredesactie – Securing Profits. How the arms lobby is hijacking Europe’s defence policy
This report documents the symbiotic relationship between the arms industry and the EU institutions and the effect of this relationship on the creation of a European Defence Fund.