My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods.
Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The Regulation provides for a harmonised export controls system throughout the EU and sets out the criteria for the examination of applications.
In line with the Regulation my officials assess all applications against the eight assessment criteria set out in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP – criterion two of which is “Respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law” and criterion three of which is "Internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts".
In addition, my officials seek the geopolitical views of the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of all applications for export licences including those destined for Israeli end users.
Accordingly, the Department of Foreign Affairs raises relevant human rights considerations in respect of all export licence applications received from my Department, including those concerning dual-use exports to Israel, which are taken into account in the final risk assessment of any licence application.
