ISTC Executive Director David Cleave was a delegate to the recent Fourth Dialogue on Export Control Governance in Brussels (Belgium) on October 8 and 9. The event, titled “Catch-all Controls and Recommendations on Related Internal Compliance Programs for Companies”, was sponsored by the European Union in the framework of the EU’s Partner-to-Partner Export Control Program for Dual-Use Goods. ISTC has been actively engaged in the EU P2P Program.

In 2021, the EU adopted an updated dual-use regulation which sets common standards in regulating EU-member countries’ control of dual-use exports, particularly related to cyber surveillance items which can be used in violating human rights if those items are not already specifically covered by existing export controls. The regulation introduces a new “catch-all” control for cyber surveillance products which requires exporters to seek approval for exports if there is a likely connection to human rights violations.

The Fourth Dialogue on Export Control Governance in October explored recommendations to manage “catch-all” controls for commercial companies and allowed participants to exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries as well as representatives of international organizations and export control regimes. Discussions provided opportunities to debate trends and developments in strategic trade controls related to “catch-all” provisions. Featured speakers were Peter Wagner, Director and Head of Service for the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments; Peter Sandler, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade; and, Ambassador Stefan Clement, EU Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament in the European External Action Service