September 16, 2019
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Country: France

Committee: DISEC

Topic: Preventing Illicit Arms Trade

Delegate: Henry VanderZyden

School: East Grand Rapids

France practices a responsible export policy guided by strict compliance with its international commitments. As an inseparable part of our global export strategy, the control process guarantees consistency with France’s foreign, defense and security policy. It is a crucial instrument for combating illicit trafficking and destabilizing flows that fuel crises and conflicts across the globe. It also takes into account existing alliances and partnerships with certain countries that reflect France’s major strategic objectives at the international level. France implements a particularly rigorous national export control system. Arms exports are prohibited unless authorized by the Government and under its control. Authorizations are issued on the basis of an interministerial procedure that assesses applications according to criteria, including those defined at the European level by Common Position 2008/944/ CFSP. France participates in the Wassenaar Arrangement on export control for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies. Established in 1996, it now brings together 41 Participating States, including the main producers and exporters of leading-edge technologies. Furthermore, France, like all its European partners, applies all the provisions of the EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP. The Common Position aims to foster convergence between Member States’ arms export policies and promote transparency in the arms sector. France attaches great importance to this treaty and played an active role during the different phases of negotiation. For instance, France strongly supported efforts to ensure that respect for international human rights law and humanitarian law were given a central place in the treaty.

  • Henry VanderZyden

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