Interactive map « European weapons and refugees »
The purpose of this interactive map is to highlight the link between European arms export and flows of refugees and internally displaced persons, in order to determine whether there is any direct or indirect responsibility of EU Member States for situations of insecurity and violence that drive millions of people to flee their homes every year.
A second objective of this tool is to stress their (ir)responsibility in European arms export authorization or realization as well as their inadequate compliance of the existing legislation, established by the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of December 8, 2008, which sets up 22 weapons categories including ammunition, light weapons, aircraft and warships, military transport vehicles and all types of military technology for military purposes. On the basis of the criteria set out in the Common Position, the relationship between the European legislation on arms export and situations of insecurity leading to movements of refugees and displaced persons can be established.
DATA
Over a given period of time (one or several years, depending on the selection made), the map shows the volume of arms export authorized – i.e. licensed – and realized – i.e. carried out – by the countries of the European Union between 2003 and 2015. It indicates the arms categories concerned and the volume exported in countries with relevant figures of refugees and internally displaced persons during the study period, according to the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) database and UNHCR’s annual “Global Trends” reports analysing forced displacement around the world.