Dual use regulation: "Under revision"

The Dual-use regulation is under revision and a proposal has already been published which aims at modernising the EU export control regime.

Amongst other equipment, some industrial valves are in the scope of the regulation and this topic is carefully followed by Orgalime and the national associations.

What we have noticed in the first draft and worries the industry is :

• the introduction of cyber-surveillance technologies to the regulation’s scope
• undue reinforcement of the catch all clause
• widening the security concept to include human rights

Some positive improvements are welcomed such as :

• the fact that global export authorisation for large projects will be valid for the entire duration of the projects
• the introduction of new General Authorisation (EUGEA)

Technologies and goods that are subject to export controls should be in line with the relevant international regimes, otherwise the EU will risk undermining the competitiveness of its industry.

The initial purpose to protect national security and prevent the proliferation of arms of mass destruction should be kept and not be mistaken as a tool to protect human rights with the EU unilaterally enlarging the scope of export controls.

The next step in the process is for the draft report from the European Parliament to be scheduled and to be adopted in Committee on 11 July, which will be adopted in Plenary in September. In the meantime, the Council’s dedicated working party on dual-use goods continues its examination of the Commission proposal in monthly meetings.