a
what was at stake
b
green position
c
what we achieved
d
what we did not achieve

Dual-use items and technology: Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit

Dual use items, like certain chemicals, telecommunication systems, or other technology, are products, which can be used for peaceful purposes and for acts of war alike.

For example, Nokia-Siemens has exported monitoring centres to Iran and Bahrain, where they were used to control the opposition during the Arab spring.

Around 10% of all European exports qualify as dual use items.

 

What was the Greens' position?

The Greens believe that strict controls of these exports are necessary to avoid that European products are used by authoritarian regimes to either lead wars or suppress democratic movements in their own countries (human rights clause).

We therefore believe it is necessary to control shipments before they leave the EU and to control all shipments (ex-ante control), also shipments of low monetary value.

Also cheap items can be extremely harmful.

 

Did other MEPs accept the Greens' position?

The Greens succeeded to introduce certain conditions for exporting dual use items.

We were able to gather support for strong wording on the respect of human rights concerning the export of telecommunications equipment.

Furthermore, thanks our insistence, Israel and India will not be able to import certain dual use items, because they have not ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

Which points did the Greens lose?

The Greens were overruled on the demand for strong ex-ante controls.

The industry-friendly position was carried by the conservative EPP.

During the vote in plenary the German delegation of the liberal ALDE sacrificed their fundamental rights ethic to an industry-friendly approach and paved the way for poorly controlled export of dual use items to authoritarian regimes across the world.

Reference(s)
Press & Events
Committee:INTA

Procedure:Ordinary legislative procedure

Reference(s):2008/0249(COD)

Lead MEP:Jörg Leichtfried (S&D)

Green MEP responsible:Reinhard Bütikofer

Voted:27.09.2011

Staff contact:Tobias Heider (Email)

Outcome of the vote
Below you find the results of the final vote in plenary. How did the political groups vote? What about national delegations? And what was the position of your MEP?