APPENDIX 2
Memorandum from the FCO: EU embargo on
China
In our response to the Strategic Export Controls
Committees' Report of March 2001, we promised to update you on
our discussions with EU partners about the possibility of agreeing
a common interpretation of the arms embargo against China.
We have approached EU partners to see whether
they would be willing to support a common interpretation. These
consultations have shown that there is no consensus in favour
of changing the present situation, whereby each member state interprets
the embargo in its own way. No EU country, other than the UK,
currently publishes national criteria for the implementation
of the EU Arms Embargo on China and there is not any easy or natural
consensus in favour of establishing a common position. Several
member states are opposed to reopening this question. We therefore,
reluctantly conclude that there is no possibility, at this stage,
of reaching a common interpretation of the EU embargo against
China.
However, we remain satisfied that the present
arrangements are effective in controlling defence exports to China.
As you know, we look at export licence applications on a case-by-case
basis against our national interpretation of the embargo and against
the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria. Our
partners similarly consider applications against their interpretations
of the embargo and against the EU Code of Conduct. Our consultations
have revealed that there is no substance to the suggestion that
some member states are relaxing their interpretations of the embargo.
16 October 2001
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