Saferworld Arms Bulletin ARMS BULLETIN No 19, 5th June 2000 _____________________________________________ French MPs call for stricter controls on arms exports Report pushes greater transparency On 26 April, the National Assembly Defence Committee presented a report on French arms export controls. The report, which is the result of a 13-month investigation by MPs Christian Martin, Jean-Claude Sandrier and Alain Veyret, details national procedures for controlling arms exports and their revision in accordance with recent international developments (in particular the 1998 EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and Letter of Intent on the restructuring of the European defence industry). Crucially, the report sets out a series of detailed recommendations many of which seek to enhance transparency, and public and parliamentary accountability in the French arms trade. In particular, the Committee calls for: Government publication every year of an annual report on arms exports which provides "detailed" information on arms sales, including exports of small arms, by country and details the political and strategic considerations that justify such sales, including military co-operation and defence agreements. Creation of a consultative committee, made up of representatives of the Defence Ministry, defence industry, arms export associations and other experts, in charge of assessing the annual reports and paving the way for an informed public debate. Introduction of an annual parliamentary debate on French arms exports to allow greater scope for parliamentary accountability. Establishment of a supervisory body in charge of undertaking an analysis of the impact of arms transfers on the French economy. Warning over Letter of Intent The Committee's report also notes that the agreement in 1998 on the Letter of Intent represents a positive step towards the consolidation of the European arms industry, but warns that the simplification of export procedures in the framework of the LOI "should not lead to weakening the political and ethical controls on arms exports". In this regard, the Committee proposes to elevate the status of the EU Code above that of a political declaration into a binding treaty which would provide a legal basis for high common standards. NGOs want greater role for parliament NGOs from the "Armes légerès.. La balle est dans notre camp!" campaign have welcomed the Committee's scrutiny of arms export procedures and regulations and its effort to address the need for greater transparency and accountability in the arms trade. However, the report is disappointing - say NGOs - in its failure to advocate a greater role for parliamentarians in scrutinising arms export decisions. Of particular concern, is the composition of the proposed consultative committee on arms sales, which, in the current proposals, would not include any Members of Parliament. NGOs have stressed that a truly accountable and democratic arms control regime would require the establishment of a permanent "parliamentary committee" responsible for scrutinising French arms exports and which has access to the required information to judge whether the government is abiding by its own export guidelines and its international responsibilities. The full text of the French parliamentary report can be obtained on-line at: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/2/2cra.htm . An analysis of the report has been carried out by the French NGO coalition. If you would like to receive a copy, e-mail Martine Bernard at Amnesty International French Section: commsp@amnesty.asso.fr or Patrick Teil at Agir ici pour un monde solidaire: agirici@globenet.org