The European Parliament adopted by 653 votes to 10, with 31 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 by granting a Union General Export Authorisation for the export of certain dual-use items from the Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.

Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 provides for EU general export authorisations which facilitate controls on low-risk exports of dual-use items to certain third countries. Currently, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, including Liechtenstein, and the United States of America are covered by Union General Export Authorisation No EU001.

Considering that the United Kingdom is an important destination for dual-use items produced in the EU, it is appropriate to add the United Kingdom to the list of destinations covered by the EU general export authorisation No EU001 in order to ensure the uniform and consistent application of controls throughout the Union, to provide a level playing field for Union exporters and to avoid unnecessary administrative burden, while protecting Union and international security.

Adding the United Kingdom to the to the list of countries included in Union general export authorisation No EU001, would not have a negative impact on EU and international security.

PURPOSE: to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 by granting a Union General Export Authorisation for the export of certain dual-use items from the Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 establishes a common system for the control of exports of dual-use items in accordance with the international commitments and obligations of the Member States and the EU. Under this regulation, an authorisation is required for the export of dual-use items to third countries. This authorisation may take the form of an individual, global or general authorisation.

In particular, Annex IIa to the Regulation provides for a Union General Export Authorisation (“EU001”) for certain low-risk transactions, e.g. exports to Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland (incl. Liechtenstein), and the United States of America.

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU has consequences for trade in dual-use items between the EU and the UK: under Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009, the export of dual-use items from the EU to the UK will, as from 1 January 2021, require an export authorisation issued by the national competent authority of the Member State where the exporter is established. This would create a considerable administrative burden for the competent authorities of the Member States and for EU exporters, which would be detrimental to their competitiveness.

CONTENT: in order to avoid disproportionate trade disruptions and an excessive administrative burden for exports of dual-use items from the EU to the UK, it is proposed to add the UK to Annex IIa of the Regulation and thus to control exports to the UK under EU General Export Authorisation No EU001.

The addition of the United Kingdom to the list of countries covered by EU General Export Authorisation EU001 should not have a negative impact on EU and international security, while ensuring uniform and consistent application of controls throughout the Union and ensuring a level playing field for EU exporters.

This proposal is consistent with the general approach to contingency measures to address a withdrawal of the United Kingdom without agreement.