Ukraine
EU member states must end arms exports to Russia
The Greens have called for an end to the supply of arms and military technology to Russia by EU member states in the context of the Russian intervention in the Crimea. Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms stated:
"The crisis in Ukraine shows that the export of arms and military technology can endanger the stability and peace of the entire region. Weapons exports from EU member states to Russia must be immediately ended. From 2007 to 2011 weapons worth €900 million were exported from the EU to Russia. This must stop.
"It is irresponsible that the governments of Germany and France are allowing domestic firms to supply Russia with the most modern technology of war. The former German government allowed the company Rheinmetall to export a "state-of-the-art training centre" for infantry and armored units. This centre, which enables up to 30,000 troops per year to be trained, is probably where those soldiers currently in the Crimea were trained. Rheinmetall must immediately stop any cooperation with Russia.
"The same goes for the French company DCNS, which is still planning to deliver the first of two warships to Russia this year. These Mistral class ships are purely offensive weapons, which allow the Russian military to land and deploy at high speed. A ship carries 16 combat helicopters, 4 landing vessels, 13 heavy battle tanks and 450 soldiers.
"The current crisis provides ample grounds to stop all European exports of arms and dual-use goods to Russia without delay."
More information:
1) Study of the BICC for the Greens/EFA group on EU arms exports, EU exports to Russia pages 20-22: /legacy/fileadmin/dam/Documents/Studies/EU_arms_export_policies.pdf
2 ) Written request to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ashton, by the Greens/EFA MEP Indrek Tarand on the export of Mistral warships: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2011-007513+0+DOC+XML+V0//DE
