EUP2P COARM Study Visit to Port of Antwerp for the Promotion of Effective Arms Export Control to North African Countries
As part of the European Union ‘Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) Outreach Programme’, the first of two study visits for North African states took place in the Port of Antwerp on 14-15 September 2016. The study visit provided an opportunity for officials from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to visit the facilities of Belgian Customs at the Port of Antwerp. The on-site training by officers from Belgian Customs and experts from BAFA, Estonia, France and the Netherlands provided background information on the operation of the port, presentations and a discussion on customs profiling and risk assessment procedures both in Antwerp and in other European entry points, inter-agency cooperation and an enforcement case study. In addition, the participants conducted a field visit to a border inspection post to observe the work of custom officers.
The European Union 'Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) Outreach Programme' (EU P2P COARM project) aims to provide assistance and cooperation in support of transparent and responsible arms transfers. The project promotes the principles and criteria for arms exports and related transparency measures introduced by the EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP. This activity was carried out in the framework of EU Council Decision 2015/2309/CFSP and has six main components: (i) Regional workshops, (ii) study visits, (iii) individual assistance, (iv) rating opinions on the application of control lists, (v) arms diversion-related activities and (vi) a final assessment event. The previous and subsequent phases were financed and carried out under EU Council Decisions 2012/711/CFSP and 2018/101/CFSP. The project is implemented by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) and co-funded between the EU and Germany.
Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)
Division 225 – Outreach-Projects; Basic Principles
Frankfurter Straße 29 – 35
65760 Eschborn
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)6196 908-2602
E-mail: coarm@bafa.bund.de