Linked on our blogs with Campaign Against Arms Trade CAAT.
The countries of Europe are significant arms exporters. The bestseller list includes: British fighter jets, German submarines, French missiles, and Italian small arms. European countries do not only earn money from arms exports. They also support the build up of arms industries in countries in the South by exporting technology and sometimes even whole production lines. Europe is providing loans and export credits to clients of the arms factories. This financial support is given by governments as well as by banks … (full text Homepage).
Country reports; Government reports; EU Docs; Publications; News;
Addresses (1 of 11): ENAAT, Anna Spenglerstraat 71, 1054 NH Amsterdam, The Netherlands NL;
Subscriptions /messages /Contacts by e-mail.
ENAAT network: The European Network Against Arms Trade ENAAT was established in 1984 at an international conference on arms production and military exports. Since this first conference, ENAAT has met in many different European cities, as a guest of the many organisations that participate in the network.
ENAAT consists of groups and individuals who regard arms trade as a threat to international peace and security and recognise the increasing need to work together against this threat at an international level. ENAAT has now participants from 13 European countries. These participants are independent. They all have their own way of working that fits the national political situation or the possibilities and strong points of the organisation.
Some participants are campaigning organisations, others concentrate on lobbying. There are individual journalists involved, and people who work for research organisations. There are also grass roots activists who prefer to go out on the street and demonstrate. This diversity is the strength of ENAAT.
The export of weapons and military equipement to countries that use their arms against their own population is one of ENAAT’s central concerns. Some European military costumers are notorious Human Rights violators.
ENAAT is also opposed to the export of arms to countries that are involved, or about to be involved, in armed conflicts. The chance that conflicts in a region of tension will be solved in a violent way, increases with the amount of arms in that area.
Finally, ENAAT questions arms exports to countries whose inhabitants lack basic needs such as clean drinking water, basic education and basic health care.
European Union:
- Most European countries have national legislation on arms exports. Some countries have more restricted policies than others. Several ENAAT groups are involved in European Union politics.
- Up to now, arms exports are excluded from the European Union export legislation by a special clause. This illustrates the fact that arms trade is not primarily a matter of Economic Affairs but one of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
- Especially in those countries where restricted export regulations apply, there is reason to fear that European Union export regulations will overrule national legislation. ENAAT is not against European regulations, provided that they are as strict as the strictest national legislation and not undercutting it, and provided that European citizens can check and control the application of regulations.
ENAAT groups:
- ENAAT is not a member organisation. Peace groups, human right groups and development groups can participate in meetings and actions if the subject at stake is relevant to them and they have something to gain and/or contribute.