BAFA organises Cross-Regional Workshop for the North African Mediterranean and Southern Neighbourhood countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy

29/06/2021
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01/07/2021
Activity description

From 29 June to 1 July, 2021 a Cross-Regional Workshop for the North African Mediterranean and Southern Neighbourhood countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy was implemented by BAFA within the framework of the EU COARM Outreach Project. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was organised online. Representatives from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia attended the event.

The event consisted of three days and four thematic sessions covering the latest developments in the field of export controls of conventional arms and military items in the EU and in the partner countries; the prevention of diversion, illicit trafficking and terrorism related activities from the licensing and customs perspectives; and regional cooperation.

Project description

This activity is part of the fifth phase of a project implemented by BAFA since 2010, on the promotion of effective arms export controls, and is based on EU Council Decision 2020/1464/CFSP. The project aims at promoting improved controls on arms transfers in third countries, in accordance with the principles set out in Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and in the ATT, and to support third countries’ efforts, at national and regional levels, to render trade in conventional weapons more responsible and transparent, and to mitigate the risk of arms diversion to unauthorized users. As part of this project, BAFA is tasked with assisting third countries in drafting, updating and implementing legislative and administrative measures to establish an effective system of conventional arms export controls, and with training licensing and enforcement officers responsible for the implementation and enforcement of arms transfer controls. Activities also include conducting outreach to third countries’ national arms industries to ensure compliance with arms control regulations and promoting transparency and responsibility in the arms trade. Encouraging those beneficiary countries that have not taken any steps towards accession to the ATT to join the ATT, and encouraging signatories of the ATT to ratify it, are also objectives of this outreach project. Furthermore, the project draws attention to the risks of arms diversion as well as to mitigation measures to prevent such diversion, both on the part of exporting and importing states.

Type of Activity
Sensitization and outreach
Focus of Activity
Border controls
Diversion
Regional cooperation
Regional instruments
Transfer controls
Partners
Algeria
Egypt
Jordan
Lebanon
Tunisia
Implementers
German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)
Donors
European Union (EU)
Contact Details
Contact Person
Ruxandra Ullrich, Senior Project Manager
Organization
Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)
Address
Division 226 / Outreach Management, Frankfurter Strasse 29-35 65760, Eschborn
Phone
+49 6196 908 2148
Fax
+49 6196 908 2148