Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the volume of armaments being sold and exported to the Middle East and other areas of conflict by members of the European Union; and the volume and value of such sales for each of the past five years. [1956/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The value of armaments sales by EU Member States to the Middle East in recent years is as follows: 2007 — €1,550,682,825; 2006 — €1,589,178,880; 2005 — €623,675,950; 2004 — €4,097,370,574; 2003 — €301,908,646; Total — €9,162,816,875. The latest year for which statistics are available is 2007. Figures for sales by individual exporting Member States of the European Union, and to individual receiving States and regions, may be found in the Council's Annual Report on exports of military equipment. The Tenth Annual Report is in the Official Journal, C 300 of 22.11.2008. Links to all Annual Reports are to be found on the relevant Council website,

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/export-controls

On 8 December 2008, the Council adopted Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment. This Common Position, which is legally binding on Member States, provides that every application for a licence to export items on the EU Common Military List shall be assessed against eight criteria.

These criteria cover matters such as respect for the international obligations and commitments of Member States, in particular the sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council or the European Union; respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law; the internal situation in the country of final destination — existence of tension or armed conflict; preservation of regional peace, security and stability; national security of Member States and of friendly and allied countries; terrorism and respect for international law; the risk of diversion, either within the buyer country or by re-export; the compatibility of the particular equipment with the level of development of the country in question. There is provision for liaison and consultation among Member States in assessing licence applications, and of course denials are notified to all Member States in the interests of transparency and consistency.

I will continue to cooperate with my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to ensure that Ireland fully implements the Council Common Position. The Programme for Government also commits us to support a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the arms trade, covering all weapons and ammunition. Ireland will be actively engaged in the negotiations to this end at the United Nations.