Abstract

Sometimes considered as military and in other circumstances as civilian, demilitarized armaments are subject to divergent interpretations by different actors involved in their exports. This ambiguity highlights the weaknesses of both European and Belgian laws’ regarding the control of arms exports. Various cases of demilitarized armaments’ diversions have shown the specificity of these goods and the difficulties to control their exports. As negotiations about an arms trade treaty are underway, both European and Belgian controls’ systems need to be adapted as well as the demilitarized armaments definitions.

Keywords: demilitarized armaments, dual use, catch all, European Common Position on arms exports, export controls, diversions, Alouette II.