Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to speed up the approval process for arms exports – this should apply to deliveries to selected EU and NATO partners as well as close partner countries. This was announced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Berlin last night.
Measures are to be introduced “at short notice” via the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control in order to significantly speed up administrative processes in export control. In concrete terms, decisions should no longer be made in the form of individual cases, but more closely bundled than so-called general decrees. This should apply from September.
Ministry officials said the procedural simplifications would not apply to Ukraine. There are already special regulations for Ukraine, so that procedures are given priority and thus approved quickly.
State Secretary Sven Giegold (Greens) said exporters were right to demand faster approval procedures. “On the other hand, human rights and the security situation require in-depth examinations – also with a view to the sanctions. Under the new regulations, alliance and value partners will now be supplied with armaments more quickly and easily. Exports to other third countries will continue to be examined in detail on a case-by-case basis.”
