The Regulation of Private Military and Security Services in the European Union: Current Policies and Future Options

Abstract

This paper aims to address two questions at the centre of the PRIV-WAR project. Firstly, what legislation and regulative frameworks for the regulation of private military and security companies (PMCs/PSCs) providing services in combat zones exist in the European Union today? Secondly, what options are there for improving these regulations in order to ensure the responsibility and accountability of these companies and their compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law? The EU has been one of the key promoters of improved regulation. However, current controls within the EU apply only to a small range of services provided by PMCs/PSCs. The main gaps in the existing regulatory framework at the national and EU levels concern the registration and licensing of PMCs and the export of private military and security services outside the EU. To address these gaps this paper outlines nine policy options which would singly or in combination improve the transparency, accountability and control of PMCs/PSCs.