EU launches two three-year projects to strengthen strategic trade controls of dual-use goods at global and transregional level

Dual-use goods are highly sensitive products and technologies used for either civilian or military applications. Since dual-use items are predominantly used for civilian purposes, their potential for abuse is often not apparent at first glance. In the wrong hands, however, they can facilitate the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, posing a threat to international peace and security.

In an interconnected world where goods and technologies flow across borders, it is of outmost importance to establish effective dual-use export controls that administer and facilitate safe and secure international trade of dual-use goods. Strategic trade control systems create traceability, trust and business opportunities in trade, in transfers of knowledge and technology, in financing and in foreign direct investment.

3 years, 50 countries, 10 regions

As part of its mission to advance CBRN risk mitigation and strengthen security and safety governance worldwide, the European Union has launched two new projects that will support strategic trade control systems of dual-use goods at global and transregional level. The two projects will have a global and transregional coverage scope, as well as a Central Asia-centred coverage, respectively.

Established within the context of the EU P2P Export Control Programme, both projects will be implemented over three years (December 2023 – December 2026) and engage around 50 participating countries across 10 different regions, including: Eastern Europe and Caucasus, Southeast Europe, North Africa, Caribbean, Central Asia, Central America, South America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Western Africa, and South and East Asia.

Funded by the European Union, the Global and transregional project will be implemented by Expertise France with the support of SBDU – Ministry of Industry and Economy (France), University of Liège, Kings’ College London, and University of Barcelona, and the Central Asia project will be implemented by BAFA - German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.

What objectives will the projects support?

They will aim to enhance capacities on strategic trade controls of dual-use goods through the creation, consolidation and/or updating of effective strategic trade control systems for dual-use goods with partner countries by offering them a long-term perspective for cooperation and mutual economic benefits of export controls harmonisation. To do so, the projects will implement a series of activities aimed at fulfilling the following objectives:

1. Assist partners in developing sound legal frameworks at national and, if applicable, regional level;
2. Assist partners in developing institutional capacities for the implementation of effective export controls;
3. Strengthen communities of practice among export control officials, scientists, academia, industry and other stakeholders;
4. Increase coordination and dialogue with other implementing entities from the EU and beyond, international export control regimes, and international organisations.

Visit the projects’ pages for a complete overview of its context, scope, or major activities:

• EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-use Goods – Global
• EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-use Goods - Central Asia

EU P2P Export Control Programme: Building a safer and more secure world

The EU P2P (Partner-to-Partner) Export Control Programme is the European Union’s flagship initiative aimed at strengthening export controls for dual-use goods and arms trade worldwide, supporting international trade in a secure and peaceful way.

Managed by the European Commission and the European External Action Service, the Programme’s objectives are to promote and reinforce international cooperation in the field of dual-use export controls, Arms Trade Treaty implementation and arms export controls by strengthening national and regional capacity, taking into account the balance between security and economic considerations.

The European Union is a long-standing provider of capacity-building activities aimed at the overall strengthening of export controls for dual-use and arms trade worldwide

As a contributor to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation, the EU P2P Programme is associated with the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence.

Visit the EU’s CBRN Risk Mitigation page to learn more about the EU P2P Programme, the EU CBRN CoE and other EU flagship initiatives strengthening CBRN safety and security worldwide.