The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee today overwhelmingly rejected a Report on Arms Export Controls drafted by German Leftist, Sabine Lösing. Conservative Defence Spokesman, Geoffrey Van Orden commented

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee today overwhelmingly rejected a Report on Arms Export Controls drafted by German Leftist, Sabine Lösing.

Conservative Defence Spokesman, Geoffrey Van Orden commented:

“The United Kingdom is very much in favour of a UN-driven international Arms Trade Treaty that all countries sign up to. On 2 April the UN General Assembly passed such a treaty, but it was opposed by Iran, Syria and North Korea, and 23 countries abstained, including Russia and China which are among the world’s foremost exporters of arms to the wrong people.

“The overall position of EU countries, as well as the USA, is supportive of UN efforts. However, there are always elements that seek to push EU involvement further. There are also those who want to impose tighter restrictions on European countries – which already have some of the tightest controls in the world – yet, inevitably absolving countries such as Russia from participation. Both motives were visible in today’s report, but neither faction was content with the final outcome once various amendments had been passed. The ECR Group had disagreed with the draft from the start.

“In a rare outbreak of common sense, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected the report.”