In spring 2020 the AECAC members elected Michael Blendinger as new general secretary.
Mr. Blendinger is vice-president of the German member association VDB and entrepreneur in Nurnberg. We have spoken with him about the future challenges and his ideas how to steer the AECAC through the coming times.
- Q: Mr. Blendinger, the Covid-19 crisis is far from over and it appears that the EU institutions are still struggling to find the right way through the crisis. Is this even the time for EU directives and regulations dealing with rather technical issues which affect your members primarily?
- A: I agree that the headlines are mainly dealing with the big issues now – EU budget, recovery measures, relations with China etc. But, of course, the everyday work of the EU institutions will continue in this fall. And this will strongly affect our members.
- Q: Can you give examples on what issues the civil commerce of weapons companies need to be aware of?
- A: Right now, we are at the final stage of a process which will likely restrict the use of lead ammunition in wetlands in the EU. We expect a decision in early fall 2020 and we fear that it will trigger similar discussions for a restriction in all other terrains as well.
- Q: The EU firearms directive from 2015 has led to intense political discussions at EU level and during the implementation period in the member states. Your home country Germany has just at the end of 2019 finalized the domestic law-making process. Do you expect any new initiatives from the EU-Commission?
- A: We have not been too happy with many aspects of the directive and its implementation in Germany. We expect to face problems in the workflow with the authorities and are concerned by probable economic loss when the new provisions are fully implemented. However, the directive clearly states that the EU Commission must publish a report on how the directive has been implemented in the coming months and can even propose new legislative measures. So we definitely have to closely watch what will happen in Brussels in the coming months. This applies for the 2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking, too.
- Q: Important times ahead for you and the AECAC. One final question – how will you keep an eye on political issues and how will you position the AECAC goals politically?
- A: As you know I have my own company, AimZone in Nurnberg, and I am involved as vice-president of the German association VDB in national discussions as well. But it is my clear intention to further ensure that the voice of the AECAC is heard in Brussels. Most of the relevant political proposals come from the EU. This is a fact.