ReArm Europe

Policy Brief

In response to the security challenges generated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission has launched several initiatives to boost rearmament in the EU. These include measures to strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base by means of facilitating joint arms production among EU member states. These measures call for both the simplification of existing regulations to facilitate the intra-EU transfers of defence products as well as an increased convergence of EU member states’ arms-export-control policies. 

This policy brief by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) in collaboration with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) analyses the outcome and discussions taking place in the framework of the latest review of the EU common position on arms exports. The author, Giovanna Maletta, Senior Researcher at SIPRI, highlights the obstacles that any attempt to apply single market standards to intra-EU transfers of defence items will confront. 

There are increasing concerns about the negative impact that regulatory simplifications in this field could have, including the risk that exported weapons may be used to violate international law. Key recommendations include that the EU and its member states should ensure that mechanisms to facilitate the intra-EU transfers of defence products and general efforts to boost rearmament plans are equipped with proper safeguards and transparency requirements in line with export-control-related obligations. At the same time, the context of this policy brief also offers an opportunity to bridge EU internal discussions on intra-EU transfers and EU exports of military material.

This policy brief was launched at Call to Europe Denmark, alongside the publications More money, more dependence? and Smarter spending today, safer societies tomorrow.

This policy brief was developed in the framework of FEPS EU Defence Working Group.