Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 4. Juli 2005 / Time Line July 4, 2005
Version 3.007/04/2012
Teatergruppen Solvognens demonstration i Rebil Bakker, 1976.
07/04/2005
EU allows defence industry lobbying to determine policies on
security, defence and arms trade
- http://www.tni.org/reports/militarism/eumilitary.pdf
Amsterdam – The European Union Defence policy is increasingly
influenced by the interests of the arms industry. The arms industry
was deeply involved in the drafting of the European Convention and
is also over-represented in many influential advisory committees on
an EU level. This way, the interests of the arms industry have
taken a central role in the determination of EU policy, as is shown
in the report released today “The emerging EU
Military-Industrial Complex – Arms industry lobbying in
Brussels”, by Frank Slijper in cooperation with the
Transnational Institute.
For the past several years, dozens of CEO’s and other top
level personalities from the arms industry have participated in
advisory committees on military research, naval industry and
military space and aviation programmes. “If the EU really
wants to alter the negative image of an undemocratic institution
dominated by corporate agendas, it should – right now –
end the backroom policy making processes”, says Frank
Slijper. “It is ludicrous how in this crucial policy area,
the industry is allowed to become so central in policy making
processes.”
At a time when the EU is taking on a new military posture and
assuming new military tasks, the involvement of the arms industry
for Brussels policy making is growing rapidly. The number of arms
industry instigated lunches and conferences is indicative and
alarming. These are the ideal occasions for EU policy brokers, top
level military officials and CEO’s from the defence industry
to strategise on new, and always industry friendly policies. Yet,
outside the small circle of lobby-watchers, little is known about
the intense relations between those who profit from the policies
and those who make them. This Report, “The Emerging EU
Military-Industrial Complex – Arms industry lobbying in
Brussels”, is a useful guide to those who want to know more
about how policy is made in small circles in Brussels. It is also a
structured and thorough analysis of how the Eurocrats gave a
central role to the industry rather than to democratic institutions
in shaping and determining EU defence and security policies.
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