1. Transparency in Arms Exports
Pim van Gemeren
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Netherlands

2. Transparency:
Accounting for arms export licences granted and denied

3. Transparency: EU Instruments
Three groups:
1. Policy:
Criteria Code of Conduct
User’s Guide
Common Military List
2. Information-exchange among Member States:
Denial notifications and consultations
3. Information towards third parties:
CoC’s and national reporting mechanisms

4. Transparency: the Dutch approach
Accountability towards Parliament
Legislation
Internet

5. Advantages to Transparency (I): EU Code of Conduct
Enables common approach among EU member states
Level playing field in arms exports
Accountability and public scrutiny
More positive attitude towards defence industry

6. Advantages to Transparency (II): the Dutch experience
Clarity on what is actually exported to where
Not denying arms export licences unnecessarily
Predictability of arms export policy

7. Conclusion
Transparency is in the interest of defence industry:
improves relationship with parliament, civil society and general public
more positive attitude
level playing field in arms exports
shorter procedures
more purposeful targeting of marketing and sales policies