Germany To Relax Rules On Arms Exports

[trikora88]

07/16/2012

Plan Stirs Controversy

The German government is planning to relax its tight restrictions on arms exports, according to plans drafted by the Economics Ministry, SPIEGEL has learned. The aim is to make it easier for companies to compete with European rivals. But amid a major debate about the country's role in the global weapons trade, the decision will likely garner heavy criticism.

The German government plans to simplify approval procedures for the export of weapons and defense equipment, according to plans drafted by the Economics Ministry, SPIEGEL has learned.

The aim is to "lift special rules that put German exporters at a disadvantage against their European competitors," according to the ministry plans. The new rules will focus on strictly regulating arms sales to countries outside the EU while approval procedues for exports within the EU are to be relaxed.

The changes will put German export law in line with less restrictive EU rules and will make it easier for German firms to export defense goods around the world.

Full article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-844685.html

[Silent Reader]

Stupid media sh*tstorm is stupid

The important part:

The new rules will focus on strictly regulating arms sales to countries outside the EU while approval procedues for exports within the EU are to be relaxed.

When was the last time weapons exports to the UK or France or Italy were controversial? ^^

[antman311]

This is good. Germany makes very good weapons.

[Grax]

Awaiting the ****storm from German media.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

When was the last time weapons exports to the UK or France or Italy were controversial? ^^

I can think of a few German weapons systems I wouldn't mind owning.

[Watan]

Boosting the economy ay?

[T-5 Killer]

Whats the most recent major arms deal that Germany had? They do make some good stuff.

[Papenheims]

Stupid media sh*tstorm is stupid

The important part:



When was the last time weapons exports to the UK or France or Italy were controversial? ^^

It could be conncected with issues exporting arms to eastern European EU countries not UK, France or Italy and other "old Europe" countries.

[Impartial Bias]

IMO, this is good, I just would like to see that Saudi Arabia gets nada.

[muck]

Awaiting the ****storm from German media.

It's already there and the opposition's crying bloody murder too. The sad part is, the very same opposition parties were the first ones to ease arms export control and also initiated the subs sale with Israel which they now denounce.

[American Caesar]

Relax export rules? Isn't the Leopard 2 in service with almost half the world's armies? Come to think of it so was the Leopard 1. So what's the new deal? Buy 200 Leo 2's and get a free tac nuke?

[muck]

Relax export rules? Isn't the Leopard 2 in service with almost half the world's armies? Come to think of it so was the Leopard 1. So what's the new deal? Buy 200 Leo 2's and get a free tac nuke?

NATO members (Turkey with limitations) and EU nations are free to buy from us whatever they desire, but otherwise arms must not be exported to any belligerent party or to countries with a negative human rights record.