Today, arms industry representatives and European policy makers are meeting at the European Defence Agency’s annual conference: “Taking European Defence Cooperation to the Next Level”. A Freedom of Information request filed by the Belgian NGO Vredesactie shows that more than 230 arms company representatives received an invitation to the conference. A dozen NGOs and peace organisations … Read More
Press release
New report by Vredesactie shows complicity of European states in war in Yemen
Press release New report shows complicity of European states in war in Yemen A report published today by the peace organisation Vredesactie shows the full extent of European arms exports to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The war has led to the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and has been mostly sustained by European … Read More
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, says Court of Appeal
British campaigners have welcomed a Court of Appeal decision to overturn a 2017 High Court judgment which allowed the UK government to continue licensing the export of arms to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen. The appeal hearing took place in April 2019. The judgment comes amidst global concern over the use of these weapons … Read More
EU Defence Fund provisional agreement sets dangerous precedent against democratic functioning of the EU
Yesterday the Industry & Research Committee (ITRE) of the European parliament (EP) adopted the provisional agreement reached with the EU Council on a European Defence Fund for 2021-2027. As it currently stands, this compromise text sets a dangerous precedent against the democratic functioning of the EU and in particular against the oversight role of the … Read More
EP allows EU militarisation and the development of controversial weapons
Today the European Parliament adopted the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) proposed by the European Commission in June 2017, as a precursor of the future European Defence Fund. The European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) is highly concerned by the adoption of such programme to subsidize the arms industry. By accepting the EDIDP, the … Read More
Over 700 researchers call on colleagues to speak out against EU military research programme
Today a coalition of science and peace organisations has launched the European initiative Researchers for Peace. Over 700 scientists and academics, most from 19 EU countries, have signed an online statement which calls on the EU to stop funding military research. They invite their colleagues in the research community to add their support. www.researchersforpeace.eu Read … Read More
The European Defence Fund will merely benefit the industry and trigger arms race in autonomous weapons, says ENAAT
Today the European Commission released its proposals for the Security and Defence heading under the next EU long-term budget. They confirm an unprecedented funding level for security and military priorites, with a Defence Fund jumping by 2200%. “The European Defence Fund will subsidize private actors for the Research & Development of controversial weaponry, which will … Read More
Press Release: Online info tool on EU Defence Fund provides all you need to know ahead of the European Summit
Tomorrow the European Summit will welcome the launch of the Permanent Structured cooperation (PESCO) and review ‘progress’ in other areas of Defence, and the European Parliament will discuss the EC proposal to fund the development phase of new military capabilities with the EU budget, as part of the European Defence Fund. The European Network Against … Read More
civil society calls for EU research agenda to shift focus from private benefits to global public goods
ENAAT contributed to a “civil society perspective on the next EU research Framwork Programme (FP9)” calling for the next EU Research policy to shift its focus from jobs, growth and competitiveness, including subsidies for the arms industry, to delivering global public goods for its citizens. “The EU is a peace project. There can be no … Read More
+117’800 EU citizens say “EU, don’t invest in weapons!”
Ahead of the European Summit today, +117‘800 EU citizens have so far expressed their opposition to the use of EU public money for the research and development of new weaponry. EU Heads of State and Government are gathering today in Brussels, and discussions will include the EC proposals for a European Defence Fund. On June … Read More
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