Arms exports
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Arms exports
The EU has common rules on the export of most weapons.
The rejected Constitution suggested a common weapons market and procurement agency, including common rules for sale of all weapons and military equipment. This provision is now included in the Lisbon Treaty
The establishment of an EU arms agency, the European Defence Agency, was decided by the Council on 16 June 2004 without waiting for ratification of the new treaty.
The tasks of this body are described in the Lisbon Treaty Article 42.3 and 45 TEU
The Wassenaar agreement from 1996 includes 33 states and control the sale of weapons and advanced equipment. The headquarters of the relevant agency is in Vienna.
Links
European Defence Agency http://www.eda.europa.eu/
SIPRI Institute http://www.sipri.org/
