PROJECT 089: EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-use Goods - Middle East

Context

The EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-use Goods aims at cooperating with strategic partners to jointly enhance the effectiveness of dual-use trade control systems worldwide by sharing experiences and best practices and supporting compliance with international obligations, most notably under the UN Security Council Resolution 1540.

Overall objective

The project´s overall objective is to contribute to the establishment, consolidation or update of effective strategic trade control (STC) systems for dual-use goods by offering a long-term perspective for cooperation and mutual economic benefits of export controls standardization. It builds on previous engagements in the region and it promotes cooperation particularly with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

Specific objectives

1. Contribution to the implementation of effective dual-use trade control systems, in particular regarding the drafting, amending or updating of related legislation, including the adoption of national control lists;
2. Contribution to the setup, implementation and operation of effective licensing systems, and to the adoption, review and enhancement of customs, investigation and prosecution procedures;
3. Identification of and outreach to domestic and regional stakeholders and to the wider community;
4. Contribution to the increase of stakeholders’ awareness of dual-use trade controls and to community building/networking activities;
5. Regular exchange with other support programmes and international organisations (export control regimes, 1540 committee), e.g. through coordination groups and international conferences.

Activities

1. Awareness raising events, including working meetings and dialogue events with policy makers;
2. Capacity building activities for responsible stakeholders, including seminars, workshops, study visits;
3. Regional, trans-regional events and international conferences;
4. Train-the-trainer workshops.

Achievements

• The EU P2P has been supporting the annual update process of the United Arab Emirates’ national dual-use control list , which is fully aligned with the EU dual-use control lists as of Annex I of Regulation (EC) 821/2021.
• Jordan published national control lists of dual-use items, which partly matches the EU dual-use control lists. The EU P2P increased the awareness of the private sector (exporting industry) with the lists and the related licensing procedures. 
• With the support of the EU P2P, Jordan started licensing the export and re-export of dual-use items in 2024.
• Several peer-to-peer engagements between the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Jordan were organised in the margins of study visits and expanded the regional ownership of the project. Further study visits were organised for Iraq (to Germany, Hungary and Portugal), the United Arab Emirates (to Germany) and Oman (to Germany).
• Lebanon was supported in drafting and tailoring national dual-use control lists partly aligned with EU control lists.
• First engagements took place with Egypt and Turkiye for possible regional extension of the cooperation.
• Two regional conferences were organized in the United Arab Emirates, enabling the participation of all partner countries and exchanging on particular dual-use export controls related subjects.