THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,
Whereas:
(1)
Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 of 5 May 2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items requires dual-use items (including software and technology) to be subject to effective control when they are exported from or transit through the Union, or are delivered to a third country as a result of brokering services provided by a broker resident or established in the Union.
(2)
It is desirable to achieve uniform and consistent application of controls throughout the Union in order to avoid unfair competition among Union exporters, harmonise the scope of Union General Export Authorisations and conditions of their use among Union exporters and ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the security controls in the Union.
(3)
In its communication of 18 December 2006, the Commission put forward the idea of the creation of new Union General Export Authorisations in a bid to enhance the industry’s competitiveness and establish a level playing field for all Union exporters when they export certain specific dual-use items to certain specific destinations while at the same time ensuring a high level of security and full compliance with international obligations.
(4)
Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 repealed Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 of 22 June 2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use items and technology with effect from 27 August 2009. However, the relevant provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 continue to apply for export authorisation applications made before that date.
(5)
In order to create new Union General Export Authorisations for the export of certain specific dual-use items to certain specific destinations, the relevant provisions of Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 need to be amended by adding new Annexes thereto.
(6)
The competent authorities of the Member State where the exporter is established should be provided with the possibility of prohibiting the use of the Union General Export Authorisations under the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 as amended by this Regulation.
(7)
Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, arms embargoes under the Union’s common foreign and security policy are adopted by Council decisions. Pursuant to Article 9 of the Protocol (No 36) on transitional provisions, the legal effects of common positions adopted by the Council under Title V of the Treaty on European Union prior to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon are to be preserved until they are repealed, annulled or amended in implementation of the Treaties.
(8)
Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: