Council sets up Community regime for controlling exports of dual-use items and technology
The European Council has established a system of export controls for 'dual-use items', covering software and technology. The regulation will extend to the transmission by electronic media, fax or telephone to any destination outside the Community, and will affect software or technology intended for civil or military use, including goods that can be used for the manufacture of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. From the 28 September 2000 when the regulation comes into force, authorisation will be required to export dual use items outside the Community. Further details of the extent of these regulations can be found on the Official Journal of the European Communities. Member States will be expected to act in liaison with the Commission in order to establish cooperation and information exchange between the competent authorities in charge of granting export licences, in order to eliminate possible disparities. A coordinating group comprising representatives of the Commission and Member States will ensure the correct application of the regulation. Penalties for infringing the regulation will be set by Member States and must be 'effective, proportionate and dissuasive'.