POSITION PAPER | REFORM DUAL-USE REGULATION | EXPORT CONTROLS
EU-Dual-Use Regulation: Council Mandate
August 2019 After lengthy negotiations since 2016, the Council of the European Union (EU) has agreed on a common position on the reform of the Dual-Use Regulation, published in June 2019. The new proposal strikes a balance between the effective protection against misuse of dual-use goods and corporate freedom in the EU as a location for high-tech industries. The Federation of German Industries particularly welcomes the fact that Member States have committed themselves to their obligation with regards to the protection of human rights. Impact assessment of legal and political nature regarding human rights violations are not left to individual enterprises. This position must defend itself in the Trilogue to come between the three European institutions.
Background on the Reform Dual-use items are goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The EU regulates their exports on the basis of decisions taken by multilateral control regimes, including the Wassenaar Agreement. The relevant legislation in the European Union is Council Regulation (EC) No. 428/2009 of May 2009 (Dual Use Regulation). Following the events of the Arab Spring, the EU Commission launched a reform process of this regulation in September 2016. The reform sought to prevent future potential Human Rights violations by controlling the exports of telecommunications surveillance equipment. Whereas export controls were previously directed towards the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, protection against the illegitimate use of telecommunication surveillance items represents a shift towards the so-called human security approach. In contrast to the national security approach, this strategy establishes a broader concept of security based on individual rights (e.g. freedom of opinion and assembly).
Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner | External Economic Policy | T: +49 30 20281562 | s.mildner@bdi.eu | www.bdi.eu Dr. Nikolas KeĂ&#x;els | External Economic Policy | T: +49 30 20281518 | n.kessels@bdi.eu | www.bdi.eu