Basic Law and Arms Exports

The Basic Law defines the boundaries for all German laws, regulations and procedures with regard to arms exports.

Following are the relevant sections from the Basic Law (as of 11.7.2012):

Preamble

"Conscious of their responsibility before God and man, Inspired by the determination to promote world peace as an equal partner in a united Europe, the German people, in the exercise of their constituent power, have adopted this Basic Law."

Article 26

"(1) Acts tending to and undertaken with intent to disturb the peaceful relations between nations, especially to prepare for a war of aggression, shall be unconstitutional. They shall be made a criminal offence.2

"(2) Weapons designed for warfare may be manufactured, transported or marketed only with the permission of the Federal Government. Details shall be regulated by a federal law."

NEW Documents:

Gegen Rüstungsexport und Migrationsabwehr. Evangelische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kriegsdienstverweigerung und Frieden, June 2019.

New Political Principles on Arms Exports. 26.6.2019.

Annual Report on Arms Exports 2018. June 2019.

Arms Exports 2018 by Federal States. BT-Drs 19/10392, 21.5.2019.

End-Use for Arms Exports to Yemens Conflict Parties. BT-Drs 19/10374, 21.5.2019.