Major arms-producing countries in Europe limit public access to information about arms sales, citing national security. A report from the Asser Institute and University of Amsterdam analyzes the legal frameworks in eight European countries that represent a significant portion of global arms exports. The findings indicate a transparency deficit that hinders justice efforts, with the opacity favoring discretion among producer countries. The report highlights that these countries, despite international treaty obligations, often restrict access to arms sales information, notably in France, where government confidentiality poses significant challenges.
The major arms-producing powers in Europe limit the information they make public to their citizens, delay the submission of reports on arms sales to other countries, or hinder transparency citing national security concerns.
We are facing a transparency deficit, says Leon Castellanos-Jankiewicz, coordinator of the study, who argues that opacity is the general rule in the legislations analyzed for the report.
These countries have signed international treaties requiring them to share such information, but the report serves as a wake-up call regarding the rearmament strategy and its global impacts.
Access to information for arms sales in France is very difficult to obtain in practice, as it is significantly restricted by the government.
Collection
[
|
...
]