Strasbourg, 28/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - New European rules were validated by the European Parliament on Tuesday and will now apply to products that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as chemicals, telecoms devices or software. In negotiations with the Council, MEPs won an undertaking that no general export authorisation should be given to “dual-use” technologies that can potentially be used in ways that violate human rights.
In a resolution by Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria), adopted with 567 votes in favour, 89 against, and 12 abstentions, MEPs prohibit the granting of general EU authorisations for exports to certain countries (such as China, India, Russia and Turkey) of telecommunication technologies that can be used in connection with a violation of human rights, democratic principles or freedom of speech. Interception technologies and digital data transfer devices for monitoring mobile phones and text messages and targeted surveillance of internet use are covered in this resolution. To date, exports of these products have been up to individual member states to decide. The Parliament also prohibited dual-use exports to countries under arms embargoes imposed by the EU Council, the OSCE or the UN. Export authorisation procedures on dual-use products will also be subject to Parliamentary control and the Commission will now have to present an annual report to Parliament on dual-use exports. Exports of dual-use items are restricted by a system of international, EU and national rules, which require EU firms to seek authorisation from the authorities. These rules aim to limit the risk of sensitive dual-use items being used for military purposes. The new EU regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items will establish a comprehensive system of “Union General Export Authorisations”. The rules define which products can be exported to which countries, as listed in the specific annexes to the regulation. The exports of products to countries not included in these annexes are governed by other EU and national rules. For most dual-use items, exports to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein will require a UGEA issued by the European Union. For all other items and countries, authorisation needs to be requested from national authorities, according to their respective national rules. The list of dual-use items requiring export authorisation was last updated by the Parliament on 13 September, when it passed a resolution by Vital Moreira (S&D, Portugal). (EH/transl.fl)