Since the 80’s, undeclared weapon proliferation programmes are largely based on the illicit procurement of a wide range of dual-use equipment, materials, software and technologies. A known example of nuclear “dual-use” proliferation was the AQK Pakistani network, which succeeded to by-pass the “nuclear safeguarded facility-based export controls” set-up by the Nuclear Suppliers Group after the India nuclear test of 1974.
The JRC supports the EC services along the entire export control policy cycle, with research in the pre-normative, implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases.
Pre-normative support
The European Union dual-use control list (Annex I to the Dual-Use Regulation 2021/821) integrates the International export control regimes control lists and items of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The JRC supports the EU in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (control of nuclear goods and technology) and the Australia Group (control of bio and chemical goods and technology) by analysing proposals for new additions to the lists and contributing to meetings.
Support to technical reviews and amendments
The JRC contributes to the annual amendment of the EU dual-use control list (see above) under a Delegated Act to the Commission (Directorate-General for Trade) and to the regular amendments of sanction control lists (e.g Russia, Iran).
Support to harmonised control implementation
The JRC operates the EU Dual-use pool of experts to the benefit of and in collaboration with EU authorities, to provide non-binding advice to technical questions concerning goods rating.
Additionally, the JRC provides capacity building technical seminars to EU licensing officers, also in cooperation with the US Department of Energy and EU national authorities.
EU export control cooperation
In support to the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the JRC contributes to the definition and the evaluation of the EU Partner to Partner export control programme in more than 30 partner countries.
Research
JRC research develops tools and guides to facilitate the policy support activities.
TIM Dual Use platform allows searching for dual-use related publications, patents and EU funded projects, fostering internal compliance and outreach activities.
TIM Dual Use dashboards allows to monitor technologies related to each of the categories of the EU dual-use control list: Nuclear Material, Facilities and Equipment (Cat.0 ), Special Materials and Related Equipment (Cat.1), Material Processing (Cat.2), Electronics (Cat.3), Computers (Cat.4), Telecommunications and Information Security (Cat.5), Sensors and Lasers (Cat.6), Navigation and Avionics (Cat.7), Marine (Cat.8), Aerospace and propulsion (Cat.9). TIM Dual Use dashboards also allows to monitor Emerging technologies, including Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Blockchain, Cyber-Surveillance, Nanotechnology, Quantum Technology, Smart Materials.
The Export control Handbook for chemicals contains a list of chemicals, around 2000, subject to export controls (restrictions, or prohibitions under sanctions) because of their inclusion in various EU regulations or in the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty. Each chemical is correlated with other data of interest, besides its chemical name: CAS number, reference codes, EU legislation of reference, 8 digits code (CN code) used for Customs declaration purposes. The Hanbook is also available as a dataset.
Future objectives
Countering the illicit procurement of sensitive goods, technologies and software is an essential element of the fight against the illegal proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons and their means of delivery, including e.g. unmanned air vehicles.
Strategic trade controls and the complementary Foreign Direct Investments Screening are also essential measures to foster EU strategic autonomy. As long as the EU will implement these policies, the JRC will be called to contribute and develop further its portfolio of activities, thanks to its multi-disciplinary competences.