§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions exist within the proposed EU code of conduct on arms sales, to prevent an EU member state taking up an export order already turned down by another EU member state on human rights grounds. [34576]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Code is under negotiation. If our proposal is accepted, each partner would be obliged to consult a member state which had denied an export licence under any of the criteria elaborated in the Code, not just the provisions related to human rights, before coming to a decision on whether to authorise a licence itself for an essentially identical transaction. The decision on whether to authorise the licence would remain at national discretion.
§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made with the negotiations with other member states on the proposed EU code of conduct on arms sales. [34679]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe have begun to negotiate the Code with our EU partners in the appropriate CFSP Working Group. We have held one meeting, and will shortly circulate a revised proposal. We hope to agree a Code during the UK Presidency.
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