Greece bought over 1 bln euros of arms from EU countries in 2010, really?

Independent online news site EU Observer recently reported that Greece had purchased over 1 billion euros’ worth of arms from countries within the European Union at the same time as negotiating its first bailout back in 2010. Citing figures from recently released European Council data on arms licences granted by member states, the EU Observer’s Andrew Rettman reported that France was by the biggest seller, with a 794-million-euro aircraft deal and sales worth 58 million euros in missiles and 19 million euros in electronics used for aircraft countermeasures and target acquisition.

Greece also spent almost 90 million euros on electronics and ground vehicles purchased from the Netherlands and Germany, as well as 52 million euros’ worth of rifles and aircraft parts purchased from Italy. Spain sold Greece 33 million euros of military-grade chemicals, according to the report. The report has caused some furor over whether these purchases by cash-strapped Greece at a time when it was negotiating its first 109-billion-euro rescue package with its EU partners were in any way attached to the approval of the bailout deal. However the truth is that Mr. Andrew Rettman misinterpreted data from the European Council on weapons sales. Foreign interests are at stake here of course, but this issue also sells in the media. Many websites and blogs even in Greece republished this article and unfortunately there was no response.

The issue of course in its essence is much simpler because this data of the European Council concern export licenses of material. These licenses may be requested for any reason. In some cases under the laws of some countries companies that are simply intending on selling to foreign countries in order to be able to make proposals they should request an export license. And actually the 1 billion euros refers to the material of these licenses. For anyone who cares to notice the same report states that the items that were actually exported reached only 70 million euros! The data for those who want to read more can be found on page 116.