THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT: ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES

A good part of Western Europe has been united in a military alliance for more than 50 years, and grown into an economic union with a single market and a new, common currency. The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) is adding another facet of coordination and cooperation among countries which are already highly integrated. Defense and security have lagged behind other areas of integration, with arms procurement and production particularly fragmented. One of the new instruments for increased integration related to ESDP development, is the Framework Agreement, which regulates important aspects of joint arms production among major Western European producers.