Germany Government, German arms exports in 2004 showed a decline of about twenty percent compared with the volume recorded for 2003. Nearly three-fourths of the shipments approved went to allied or other partner nations.
On January 25 the German cabinet approved its annual arms export report, this time for the year 2004. The report lists the cases in which the government issued permits for the export of weapons of war and other military goods.
Permission was given for the export of arms and equipment valued at around 3.8 billion euros.
Nearly three-fourths of the permits issued were for shipments to EU countries, NATO partners, or countries with equivalent status in security policy terms. In many cases these exports were related to defense industry cooperation.
Decline in exports
Weapons of war account for only 0.15 percent of overall German exports. Their share of overall defense-related exports declined in comparison with 2003 to a current level of 1.1 billion euros.
Permits were issued for the export of small arms (handheld automatic firearms in most cases) valued at 36 million euros. This constitutes a decline of nearly a third in comparison with 2003. Countries outside the EU and NATO accounted for a volume amounting to only 8 million euros.
Careful assessment
The German government's policy on arms exports is restrictive. One hard and fast rule is that arms exports to crisis regions will not be approved.
All applications for arms exports are subjected to careful assessment. German arms must not be used to aggravate existing crises or to commit human rights violations. Export permits are issued only if these criteria can be met.
The legal basis for German arms exports are the constitution, the Weapons of War Control Act, as well as the Foreign Trade Act in connection with the Foreign Trade Regulation.
Arms exports are subject to government approval. Export applications are approved on the basis of the German government's policy guidelines for the export of weapons of war and other military goods, in effect since January 2000.
In contrast to a number of other countries, the German government does not view its policy on arms exports as an instrument of foreign policy. Decisions on arms exports are taken pursuant to a comprehensive assessment of the relevant foreign, security, and human rights policy situation.
In the case of differences of opinion between government authorities involved in the decision-making process, a final decision on granting or denying permission to export is taken by the National Security Council.
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