The EU Council has announced its intention to modernise the current EU regime “for the control of exports, transfer, brokering, technical assistance and transit of dual-use items“.

Objective of the mandate

The purpose of the mandate is to reinforce the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, security, stability and regional peace in addition to the respect for international humanitarian law and human rights.

Proposed changes

A number of amendments will be made to the EU dual-use items export control system so that the system is better adjusted to evolving political, economic and technological circumstances.

Some of the proposed changes include:

1.)  Harmonisation of the control of supplying technical assistance with regards to sensitive items;

2.)  Addition of cyber surveillance items (e.g. hardware or software) to the regime and granting authorisation to competent authorities to control such items; and

3.)  Further harmonisation of licensing processes by introducing new general export authorisations (EU GEAs) which are authorisations for exports to certain countries of destination available to all exporters who comply with the conditions.