On 17 May 2019, the EU adopted a brand new sanctions regime to deter and respond to cyber-attacks. This follows the adoption, on June 2018, by the European Council of conclusions outlining the necessity to strengthen the EU ability to address cyber threats originating from outside the EU. Keep Reading
Although expected, President Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the JCPOA has triggered swift and concerned reactions from Europe. Despite the EU’s reaffirmed commitment to the JCPOA, it is yet unclear whether – and how – the Agreement will survive. Keep Reading
The Belgian customs authorities are suing three Belgian companies before the Criminal Court of Antwerp for what appears to be serious infringements of the restrictive measures imposed on Syria. The three companies concerned are all parties involved in the supply chain of a deal in chemical products: the producer, the company handling the administrative aspects of the transaction, and the… Keep Reading
On 25 January 2018, the EU Commission issued a notice regarding the impact of Brexit on future movements of controlled goods. By Olivier Coulon, 26 January 2018 In its notice, the EU Commission recalls that, unless an agreement would provide for another date, the United Kingdom shall be treated as a third country as from 30 March 2019. The impact… Keep Reading
A recent study report (accessible here), originally ordered by EASME (the European Executive Agency for SMEs), addresses the dual-use potential of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). The report deserves the particular attention of SMEs involved in KET research and development, because the dual-use potential of these technologies, if realized, is likely to bring the activities of these SMEs within the scope… Keep Reading
In 2014, the EU Commission announced its intention to recast Regulation 428/2009 (“the Dual-use Regulation”), triggering a long process of internal discussion and public consultation. The project now seems to have reached a milestone with a draft proposal from the Commission. In particular, as explained in a previous post, the leaked document foresees the inclusion of a human rights factor… Keep Reading
The recast of Regulation 428/2009 (“the Dual-use Regulation”), which has been an on-going project for the last two years, now appears to have come to a turning point, with a draft proposal from the EU Commission. The leaked document (link), yet to be formally communicated to the EU Parliament and Council, foresees a range of important changes that should be… Keep Reading
On 1 July 2016, the EU Council renewed the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, until 31 January 2017. The so-called “phase 3 sanctions”, which were adopted on 31 July 2014 and due to expire on 31 July 2016, specifically target Russia’s financial sector, by limiting the access to capital markets of its major financial institutions. The… Keep Reading