B4-0070/95

Resolution on the export of repressive technologies

The European Parliament,

-concerned at the export of repressive technologies to regimes that violate human rights,

-disturbed at recent revelations that such technologies are being produced in at least three EU countries, namely Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom, with companies such as Equipol, France Selection Neral et Cie SARL (France), Tactical Arms International (UK) and British Aerospace all known to have supplied electric shock units,

-horrified at the information that these technologies have been exported amongst others to Saudi Arabia, China, the Gulf States and South Africa under the apartheid regime,

-aware that these technologies have been used in gross violations of human rights,

-aware of government complicity in these transactions that have been formally banned by the governments concerned, as in the case of ICL Technical Plastics in Glasgow, which produces electric shock weapons with permission from the Scottish Office, according to Frank Stott, the head of ICL,

1.Requests a statement from the governments concerned regarding the allegations;

2.Urges support for Amnesty International's call for a full investigation into the extent of the trade in the EU;

3.Calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals to incorporate those technologies within the scope of arms export controls and ensure greater transparency in the export of all military security and police technologies to prevent the hypocrisy of governments who breach their own export bans;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.