During the plenary session (12-15/11/18) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg MEPs debate (13/11), vote on arms export, and statement by Sabine LÖSING (GUE/NGL, DE), rapporteur. The results are: 427 in favour, 150 against and 97 abstentions. The resolution as a whole is approved.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

LÖSING, Sabine (GUE/NGL, DE)

arms export (T)

Arms export: extracts from the debate (13/11) and from the vote on the report by Sabine LÖSING (GUE/NGL, DE)

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine L&#214;SING (GUE/NGL, DE), Dear colleagues in this house, I think we can say that the outrage about the deadly business of arms exports has never been so wide spread as today in view of the horrors taking place in Yemen. Frigates, patrol boats and artillery positioning and bombs above all from Germany, France and Spain are creating hell on earth for the children of Yemen. 

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine L&#214;SING (GUE/NGL, DE), In addition to US companies we have at this moment other companies from Europe, providing about 50% of war ammunitions in the Middle East region. How is this possible? We have rules after all banning supplies of armaments to crisis regions and countries where evil human rights violations take place on a daily basis. 

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine L&#214;SING (GUE/NGL, DE), But one thing that we do have in common and we should reflect on, is that if we do believe in human rights and humanist values and peace and stability, if we are concerned about that, we need to do our utmost to ensure that the common position to control arms exports is efficiently and effectively implemented.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine L&#214;SING (GUE/NGL, DE), In my group we are very critical of the new EU armaments programme and we reject the defense fund including the so called peace facility. I nevertheless do welcome the fact that programmes such as the easy IDP &amp; Co are actually brought into the control mechanisms of the Parliament and integrated as such in the report. And the widening of criteria to allow the posting of military and security staff for training purposes is also welcome. And finally we have an initiation through the report for the first time of the programme for socially sustainable rearmament or conversion. Now colleagues we need to ensure that our common responsibility prevails to ensure further controls that are effective of our arms exports which is what the general public expects of us.

Opening of the vote on the report by Sabine L&Ouml;SING. 

Voting on the resolution as a whole - approved In favour - 427 Against - 150 Abstention - 97