German arms exports fall

18 December 2003

BERLIN – German arms sales fell last year due to the government’s restrictive policy on giving export permits for weapons, a statement said Wednesday.

Arms exports approved by Berlin were last year worth EUR 3.3 billion, down from EUR 3.7 billion in 2001 – a decline of 13 percent, said the government.

Biggest recipient was the United States, which bought EUR 685.3 million worth of German weapons, followed by Greece EUR 266.2 million and Spain EUR 232.3 million.

“This shows the German government has continued its restrictive export control policies,” said a government spokesman.

 DPA
Subject: German news