The Emerging EU Military-Industrial Complex Arms Industry Lobbying in Brussels

After many years of ideas, but little substance, military developments in the European Union are currently moving forward faster than ever. Issues that were deemed likely to remain at the discussion table forever have "suddenly" taken root: EU defence policy, common procurement, military research spending and the restructuring of the arms industry. The incorporation of military issues into the EU Constitution and the creation of the European Defence Agency, in particular, are important milestones that have passed unnoticed for many people. Not so for the defence industry. Among a dozen generals and diplomats, three arms industry representatives were asked to give their views on Europe's defence policies - but not one civil society representative was approached.

Over the last few years the arms industry has increasingly pressured high-ranking officials and parliamentarians in Brussels and in national capitals to adopt their policy proposals. With no small degree of success. "The Group of Personalities", "LeaderSHIP 2015" and other task forces led by European Commission luminaries, have been essential to lobbying their interests, ranging from increased spending on anti-terrorist technology to the removal of arms export barriers.

This report highlights the influential but little-known role that the arms industry and its lobby play in Brussels today. The close co-operation between the European Commission and the arms industry is a case study of backroom policy-making, and a caricature of how many people today perceive European decisionmaking processes in general.

The report also shows how their lobbying power threatens the 1998 EU Code of Conduct on arms exports (CoC) that should forbid arms sales to human rights abusers or conflict zones. This study hopes to contribute therefore to a much more transparent European decision-making process, especially as regards military matters, one which involvesi civil society, and serves to temper the overwhelming corporate power prevailing currently. With referenda on the Constitution ahead in many European countries, these developments should be brought to the fore.

• Introduction And Background
• The European Defence Agency And The Constitution
  • o Box: EDA in the Constitution
• Multiple Military Stakeholders
  • Group of Personalities
  • Box: Who is Philippe Busquin?
  • Box: A look behind the scenes in The Netherlands
  • Box: Who is Erkki Liikanen?
  • Leader SHIP: Coming on Board
  • Star 21
  • Star 21: New things to chew on
• Military Industrial Lobby
  • ASD
  • Box: EDIG + AECMA = ASD
  • Forum Europe and the New Defence Agenda
  • The Kangaroo Group
  • Box: Who is Karl von Wogau?
• Consequences For Arms Exports
• Concluding Remarks

• Notes, Glossary