The arms industry works internationally, but arms export policy remains an issue for national governments. Some countries have more restrictive policies than others. All countries in Europe have national licensing systems for the export of military and dual use goods. For EU countries this policy has to be in line with the EU Common Position on arms export controls. Several non-EU countries, such as Norway, also follow this policy.
Arms companies aggressively promote sales at arms fairs all over the world to attract new customers to their deadly products. Many governments have special arms promotion agencies to support their industries. Arms trade has as much to do with profit and trade as with foreign policy and military strategy. Arms trade is often connected to corruption and bribes.

The Network

Activities of ENAAT groups and individuals vary from campaigning against the financing of arms exports by governments, banks and pension funds to lobbying for stricter export control rules or research into specific military companies. The ENAAT programme officer in Brussels follows development on the EU level, including plans to direct European funds to arms industry research.

ENAAT is not a membership organization and there is no central secretariat. All participants have their own expertise and strategy which suit their national circumstances. The network was founded in 1984 at an international conference on arms production and military exports in the Netherlands. The network ran several common campaigns, such as Stop Arming Indonesia and a campaign against the use of Export Credits for military goods. At present, ENAAT runs the NoEUmoney4arms campaign.

Groups and individuals which want to participate in ENAAT can contact the ENAAT EU Programme Officer to ask for information.