The EU as an (in-)coherent security actor? : assessing the revised dual-use regulation

Abstract

The Council and the Parliament have recently reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the European dual-use export control regime. The revised regulation is supposed to enhance the clarity, effectiveness and efficiency of European dual-use trade rules. Moreover, it puts a special emphasis on human security and expands the list of controlled items to cyber-surveillance technology. Focusing on the revised regulation’s scope and institutional design, we discuss whether and how it will promote coherence in European dual-use export control. We identify four problems that have produced incoherence in European dual-use governance so far and argue that the revised regulation is insufficient to provide a comprehensive remedy. Far-reaching national discretion and inadequate coordination mechanisms prevent a truly level playing field for European companies and hamper the EU’s establishment as a fully coherent security actor.