EU ARMS EXPORT CONTROL AND THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

• Published in: Eurolimes no. 23 Supl; pp. 131 - 147
• Main Author: GROENENDIJK, Nico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Oradea Press 2018; Editura Universitatii din Oradea
• Subjects: Politics / Political Sciences; arms export control; Arms Trade Treaty; EU Common Position; Association Agreement; arms trade; Eastern Partnership
• ISSN: 1841-9259

This paper assesses the potential impact the EaP has on (conventional) arms export control in the EaP countries. Arms export control is a policy area in which the EU has recently stepped up its involvement, mainly in light of the de-stabilising influence of EU arms export to countries in the Middle East. However, Ukraine (already heavily involved in arms trade, also in the EaP region) has indicated it wants to become a major – global – player in this field. The paper first analyses arms trade flows from,to and within the EaP area (2010-2016). It then looks at the current international and EU regulatory framework (the so-called Common Position) for arms export control. This common framework has brought along some convergence within the EU, but uniform implementation by EU Member States is still problematic. Subsequently, the paper analyses how arms export control is dealt with in the various association and cooperation agreements between the EU and EaP countries. The paper then focuses on a comparison between recent EU and Ukrainian arms exports to see to what extent there is any convergence in such exports. The final section discusses the main findings and conclusions.