Brussels – 21st January, 2013

The European Parliament's International Trade Committee today consented to the UN Arms Trade Treaty, the first-ever international Treaty regulating the export, import, and transfer of conventional arms ranging from battle tanks to ammunitions.

The Members of the Committee voted unanimously in favour of authorizing EU Member States to ratify the Treaty, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 April, 2013 and opened for signature on 3rd June 2013.

PGA EU Parliament National Group Chair Helmut Scholz commented: "In voting through this report the International Trade Committee has recommended the EP to give consent to the Treaty, as well as its position on member state ratification and implementation. This is overall a positive result as the Treaty must not only be signed up to but adhered to."

Scholz added: "I am pleased that my attempt to include a reference in the EP position paper on the effect the arms trade has on developing countries in terms of corruption and state debt was successful. It is also crucial that this Treaty is not an end in itself, it must be the first step towards worldwide regulation of the arms trade."

It is now anticipated that the matter will be taken up in the Plenary of the EU Parliament in early February 2014.

Should the Plenary of the EU Parliament extend its consent, the matter will be subsequently taken up by the Council of the European Union which will be required to take a decision authorizing EU Member States to ratify the ATT.