Abstract

First regional agreement on arms exports control, the European Code of Conduct on arms exports is celebrating its 10th anniversary on June 8, 2008.

Useful but imperfect, the Code should continue to evolve and correct its weaknesses in order to achieve its primary objective: to prevent any arms exports from Europe that could harm the peace and undermine security and sustainable development in the importing countries.

Ten years after its adoption, the results are mitigated and the European Union is still reluctant to transform the Code into a legally binding Common Position.