The EU is the main producer and exporter of dual-use goods and technology and due to this fact is an important participator in the export control arrangements regarding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In order to remain adequate to the threats before the EU security due to the rapid technological and scientific advancement, it is necessary that the EU regime is modernized regularly. In 2016 the European Commission (EC) undertook a legislative procedure in modification of Regulation (EC) #428/2009 to set up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items. Recognizing the regime for the control of exports’ importance and the necessity for its adaptation to the rapidly changing technological, economic and political circumstances, the Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov, identified reaching an agreement on the modification as one of the priorities in front of the Bulgarian presidency, presented before the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade.
The proposal on the Regulation’s modification was discussed within a working group “Dual-use items” belonging to the Council of the European Union which was chaired by representatives of the Directorate “Internationally Controlled Trade” in the Ministry of Economy. Seven group meetings were held during the Bulgarian presidency and was achieved a remarkable progress on the dossier. An agreement was reached by the Member-States on many of the discussed texts. Trade-off texts of the Bulgarian presidency were presented by the end of the six-month period which will serve as basis to the Austrian presidency.
The Bulgarian presidency’s team work during the six-month period was assessed highly by the Member-States and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU and EC’s representatives as the innovative approach regarding the summarizing of Member-States’ comments and opinions was recognized.