The Flemish Peace Institute is an independent research institute hosted by the Flemish Parliament. It was established in 2004 to conduct scientific research on peace issues and offer its findings to support the activities of the Flemish Parliament. The Institute provides information and documentation and makes recommendations to the Parliament. Its documents address issues that are relevant for policymakers but also for civil society organisations and the public at large. Some of the key publications are translated into English for a wider audience throughout the world.
The Peace Institute examines legislation and policy concerning the international arms trade and monitors events and data on Flemish arms trade and the use of firearms. In an annual report the Institute publishes analyses of data on the import, export, and transit through the region of military materials during the preceding year, with special emphasis on their end-use. The Institute also devotes special attention to the policy of the European Union: the unified defence market, European agreements on export control, and illegal firearms markets in the EU.
