The alliance criticizes the European Union’s plans to invest billions in arms research and military cooperation with third countries. The EU must not arm states that wage war or violate human rights. The promotion of peace and human rights must not fall victim to defence against flight and migration. The signatories demand that the EU should instead invest more in nonviolent conflict resolution.
On the same day, the alliance presented the appeal at an expert meeting with MEP Hannah Neumann (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance), as well as Ota Jaksch, research officer for MEP Özlem Demirel (Group of the European Left/Nordic Green Left). Around 40 representatives of civil society also participated in the discussion.
"We are observing a problematic trend towards the reallocation of development-related and civilian funding instruments for the equipment and training of police and armies in so-called third countries and for migration control," explained Dr. Martina Fischer of Bread for the World, who presented the appeal together with Dion van den Berg (PAX, Netherlands).
Dion van den Berg criticised the so-called European Peace Facility planned by EU-states, which includes financing weapons and ammunition for partner countries such as the Sahel as well as the Middle East.
MEP Hannah Neumann and the Alliance's spokespersons agreed that the European Parliament's control function over the EU Commission must be strengthened. The Common European Position on arms exports must finally be enforced so that no weapons are delivered to war and crisis zones. MEPs should call on the Commission to implement the European Parliament's earlier declaration on strengthening mediation and prevention capacities.
Press photo 1: Members of the civil society delivered 23,191 signatures demanding to “Save the European Peace Project” to Katarina Barley, Vice President of the European Parliament. Pictured (from left to right): Hannah Sanders (forumZFD), Katarina Barley, Oliver Knabe (forumZFD), Dion van den Berg (PAX), Simon Bödecker (Ohne Rüstung Leben), Charlotte Kehne (Ohne Rüstung Leben)
Credits: forumZFD
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Press Photo 2: Dr Martina Fischer (Brot für die Welt), Dion van den Berg (PAX) und Oliver Knabe (forumZFD) discussed the appeal with mit Hannah Neumann, MEP, und Ota Jaksch (research assistant to Özlem Demirel, MEP). Pictured (from left to right): Alexandra Mehdi and Ota Jaksch (assistants to Özlem Demirel, MEP), Dion van den Berg (PAX), Oliver Knabe (forumZFD), Dr Martina Fischer (Brot für die Welt), Hannah Neumann (MdEP)
Credits: Simon Bödecker
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