As part of the ‘EUP2P export control programme for arms-ATT’ (EUP2P-ATT), this two-day event involved over 30 participants from various Offices and Departments of the Philippine Government that are involved in the ATT ratification process. The EU Delegation in Manila provided some welcoming remarks before national experts from Austria, Croatia, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden led discussions during the different sessions on legal and policy issues.
The workshop offered an opportunity for participants to discuss the need for, and requirements of, effective strategic trade control in general and for the ATT in particular. Philippine officials presented the state of the legislative process with regard to the Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA), on the basis of which the Philippines planned to ratify the ATT. The experts from the EU and BAFA presented on the EU system of controls and provided several examples of licensing models in EU countries. The need to adopt criteria for the evaluation of licensing applications, either the more limited criteria of the ATT or the broader EU criteria, was emphasised by the team of experts. The EU Control Lists and their origin in the international export control regimes was discussed as well.