Germany accelerates arms exports, slashing approval times
9 May 2024 08:47
Germany streamlines the weapons export process. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has sped up the issuance of weapon export permits and reduced bureaucratic hurdles. According to Handelsblatt, orders are now processed within 30 days.
The German arms industry has notably enhanced its capabilities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that Germany is the sixth largest arms exporter globally.
Previously, the main issues were procedural and related to the slow pace of administrative processes. The system for approving applications and orders had been bottlenecking the arms industry.
It took Germany two years following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to streamline supplies and adjust arms production procedures.
As Handelsblatt, the German economic newspaper, reports, Germany can now smoothly export weapons to other countries.
"The measures taken by the Federal Ministry of Economy to fast-track arms export approvals have proven effective," says Handelsblatt.
This efficiency improvement is backed by data from the department led by Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.
Currently, 90 to 95 per cent of all applications are processed within 30 business days. Furthermore, half of them are exempt from approval requirements as the weapons are being sent to closely allied nations.
