Outreach

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Outreach – Background and Purpose

Since 2006, the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has also been involved worldwide as an implementing organisation for numerous outreach projects. These focus on various areas of export control and non-proliferation, in relation to dual-use goods, conventional armaments and the implementation of restrictive measures (embargoes).

The aim of these outreach programmes is to offer partner countries subject matter support in developing and strengthening their export control systems, thus making an important contribution to preventing the illicit arms trade and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In this way, BAFA supports, among others, the demands for improved regulation and transparency in export control set out in the 2014 ATT (UN Arms Trade Treaty) as well as the effective implementation of UN Resolution 1540 (2004) on the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The work in the outreach sector is based on the approach of developing assistance tailored to the respective needs of the partner country (tailor-made approach). In this context, partner countries are individually supported in setting up and improving their export control systems in cooperation with experts and project partners.

BAFA is currently implementing four cooperation projects in the field of export control on its own, three of them on behalf of the EU and one project on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office:

  1. The Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Project III (EU ATT OP III; 01.02.2022 - 31.01.2025) for the implementation and universalisation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. BAFA is working with a total of eight partners in the EU ATT OP III: Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, Zambia.
  2. The COARM-Project for the implementation of outreach activities in the field of arms and military export controls, already in its 5th phase (COARM V; 01.12.2020 - 30.11.2023). Here, BAFA cooperates with 23 partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
  3. Project No. 89 (P89) under the EU “Partner-to-Partner (P2P)” initiative (01.01.2022 - 30.06.2024) in the area of dual-use export control with the partner countries Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon as well as the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
  4. National project to support states in Southeast Asia in implementing UN embargo measures (01.02.2022 - 31.12.2022). Here, BAFA works together with the 10 ASEAN member states.

In addition, BAFA is engaged in a consortium that implements two projects in the field of dual-use goods control, led by a French organisation (Expertise France).

EU Outreach 

Under the European Union (EU) outreach projects, BAFA works with partner countries from non-EU member states. Funding is provided by the EU and partly by the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and BAFA.

EU Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Project III (ATT-OP III)

The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty is the first international treaty to establish global standards for trade in conventional arms. It entered into force on 24 December 2014 after more than 50 states ratified the treaty.

The EU Council Decision 2021/2309/CFSP mandated BAFA, together with the French agency Expertise France, to implement the third phase of the ATT outreach project. This project, which is co-financed by the Federal Foreign Office and BAFA, continues the EU funded ATT projects, which have been carried out since 2014 - initially solely by BAFA, since 2017 then successfully together with Expertise France - for a further three years. BAFA and Expertise France are each responsible for a specific group of countries.

The project aims to raise awareness on the arms trade at national and regional levels, thereby contributing to the global universalisation of the ATT, and to ensure its effective implementation. The EU project supports non-EU countries upon request in strengthening their arms transfer control systems. Partner countries are offered tailored support and advice in the format of regional conferences, workshops and study visits with the participation of international experts.

The cooperation with long-term partner countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America that started under the previous project phases is being continued and new partner countries have also been added. In total, BAFA is working with eight long-term partners in ATT-OP III (Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand and Zambia). Further partner countries may receive support upon request in the course of the project.

COARM V-Project

By EU Council Decision 2020/1464, BAFA received the mandate to implement the COARM V project on strengthening export controls for conventional arms and military equipment. With this, the project, which started in 2010 and is funded by the EU, the AA and BAFA, is already in its fifth phase.

Here, too, the aim is to offer partner countries outside the European Union expert support in various areas of export control of arms and military equipment, such as legislation, licensing procedures and customs. In contrast to ATT OP III, the focus is particularly on countries that are members of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Partner countries are supported in strengthening and aligning their export control systems with Common Position 2008/944/CFSP.

The project also provides a platform for regional dialogue to the partner countries. Other project components include study visits to partner countries and EU member states, as well as individual support measures, which can be requested by the partners.

  1. South-Eastern European EU Candidate Countries or potential candidates (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia);
  2. Countries in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine);
  3. North African Mediterranean and Southern Neighbourhood countries included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia);
  4. Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

This project phase ends at the end of 2023.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 (1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Project No. 89 in the Context of the EU Partner-to-Partner (P2P) Programme for the Control of Dual-Use Goods

The EU Outreach project in the area of export control of dual-use goods started in January 2022 as a direct follow-up to the predecessor project No. 38. It has a duration of 30 months and includes the former partner countries of project 38 – Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon - and more recently the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Action plans are agreed with the partner countries, which may include individual measures as well as regional activities. The aim is to further strengthen existing relations and regional cooperation and to continue individual support in the area of export control of dual-use goods.

The activities consider the current state of export controls in the respective partner countries and include, among others, advice on the introduction of export controls for dual-use goods, outreach-to-industry events and specific support in processing applications.

EU P2P Export Control Programme for Dual-Use Goods Project No. 64 for Countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy

This second outreach project in the area of export control of dual-use goods, continues the long-standing cooperation between the EU and the partner countries included in the European Neighbourhood Policy. The current project is being implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France.

Within the framework of this project, BAFA provides the Regional Coordinator responsible for cooperation with the countries of South Eastern Europe. Furthermore, BAFA additionally provides the key expert for licencing procedures, who is responsible for the technical design of activities in this area.

The cooperation is based on a customised national cooperation plan (roadmap), which includes practical workshops with case studies, exercises and discussion rounds. Furthermore, support in the updating of legislation is offered if needed. Furthermore, the project provides a platform for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. Additional partner countries under this project are Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

EU P2P Project No. 90 – Export control programme for Dual-use Goods – Southeast Asia

The project is being carried out by Expertise France in a consortium of which BAFA is a member. It establishes cooperation with ASEAN countries in the field of dual-use export control.

In this project, BAFA provides the capacity of the key expert for licensing procedures as well.

Link to Outreach Projects

National Outreach

Since 2015, BAFA has also regularly carried out national outreach projects funded by the Federal Foreign Office.

BAFA, in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office and UNODA, also organises the biennial Wiesbaden Conference, which focuses on dialogue with industry to support the practical implementation of export control regulations under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004).

Since 2018, national outreach activities have also included a capacity-building project on the implementation of UN imposed restrictive measures in Southeast Asia. The focus of this project is to support states in the ASEAN region in combating attempts by state and non-state actors to circumvent the restrictions. Relevant topics in this area are discussed, among other things, in a multilateral framework at regional conferences and in bilateral workshops with the states.

Additional Information

Contact

  • Outreach ProjectsFederal Office for Economic Affairs and Export ControlDevision 225 – Outreach-Projects; Basic Principles Frankfurter Straße 29 – 35 65760 Eschborn, Hesse Germany Phone: +49 (0)6196 908-2952, -2562ReachabilityMonday to Thursday: 08:30 a. m. – 04:00 p. m.
    Friday: 08:30 a. m. – 03:00 p. m.
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