EU Parl't Calls for Tougher Control on Arms Exports as Weapons Surface in Syria

Syrian media have repeatedly reported about large stocks of arms, ammunition, vehicles and other military equipment, made in the US, Europe and Israel found by the country’s army, while conducting mop-up operations in regions liberated from terrorists.

The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for tougher controls on arms exports from the EU after weapons of dubious origin have been found in Syria.

According to members of the parliament, they were "shocked at the amount of EU-made weapons and ammunition found in the hands of Daesh* in Syria and Iraq."

The lawmakers also urged to punish EU member states that do not comply with the commonly agreed EU criteria on arms exports. The parliament admitted that EU-made weapons were sometimes used to fuel conflicts, as was the case with Saudi Arabia and members of its coalition waging a war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

READ MORE: European Parliament 'Shocked' at Amount of EU-Made Arms in Hands of Terrorists

The latest figures show that arms exports from the EU member states amounted to over 27 per cent of the global total in 2013-2017, which would make the bloc collectively the second largest arms supplier in the world after the United States.

Members of the European Parliament have gathered in Strasbourg for the plenary session, addressing several issues, including arms exports.

*Daesh (also known as IS, ISIS, ISIL) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.