Abstract

On December 5, 2007 the European Commission presented a "Defence Package" containing a framework communication setting out a strategy for the European Defence Industry; a proposal for a Directive simplifying intra-Community arms transfers; and a proposal for a Directive on the award of public defence works and supply contracts. According to the Commission, this set of proposals is designed to alleviate the obstacles to the creation of a "European Defence Equipment Market" and improve the competitiveness of the arms industry.

By privileging a market approach which completely ignores the foreign policy and geopolitics aspect of the arms trade and without a harmonised and legally binding instrument for controlling arms export, the "Defence Package" threatens to reduce the European policy on arms export to its lowest common denominator, implying a serious setback in terms of transparency, which in turn would increase the risk of unwanted re-exportation of arms towards third countries.