Arms: code of conduct on exports. 5th annual report

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Raül ROMEVA RUEDA (Greens/EFA, ES) on the 5th annual report published by the Council under the

EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. (Please see the summary dated 12/10/04).

In addition, Parliament considered uniform EU rules on controls on arms brokering activities to be essential, and despite the welcome EU Common Position on arms brokering of 2003 there is still a lack of operative provisions for Member States to control arms brokering, arms transporting and arms financing activities by EU nationals and residents when such activities, and the related arms deliveries, take place through "third countries".

The arms embargo on China should remain until such time as the EU has adopted a legally binding Code Of Conduct on Arms Exports and the People's Republic of China has taken concrete steps towards improving its human rights situation.

Parliament went on to urge Member States to agree on a list of countries involved in armed conflicts to which arms exports should be banned in principle, drawing upon the reports and recommendations of the UN Security Council monitoring mechanisms on arms embargoes.