EU P2P: 11th Summer University on Strategic Trade Control

The 11th Summer University on Strategic Trade Control (the Course) is part of the European Union's Export Control Programme for dual-use goods (EU P2P). The Course aims to provide basic and in-depth academic knowledge of strategic trade control systems, and to share lessons learned from the implementation experience of the European Union and a number of countries around the world in identifying challenges and solutions for the effective management of strategic trade in dual-use goods related to weapons of mass destruction. The Course also serves as a forum for experts from the EU, countries and international organisations, and for participants, to exchange, share and discuss the development of dual-use goods control systems. The Course consists of two parts: (i) 12 online modules, to be completed before the in-person sessions; (ii) in-person sessions from 7 to 11 July 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Course was attended by 60 officials from 48 countries, territories and international organisations.

Course participants pose for a group photo

The Course was jointly opened by representatives of the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) and the University of Liège (Belgium). The opening remarks underlined the importance of strategic trade control and international cooperation in the global non-proliferation and arms control regime for weapons of mass destruction (WMD), especially in today's volatile global context. The speakers also expressed the hope that the Course would provide participants with useful knowledge for developing, managing and enforcing their countries' policies on countering the proliferation of WMD and managing WMD-related dual-use goods, particularly control procedures in the field of exports.

Presentations were delivered by experts from: the EU's non-proliferation and disarmament body; EC policy experts; the University of Liège (Belgium); the University of Barcelona (Spain); dual-use goods control regimes (the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement); the strategic trade control (STC) authorities of Denmark and the Netherlands; the Export Control and Related Border Security Program (United States); and the export control departments of major European corporations in manufacturing (LEGO) and in finance and insurance (Allianz).

The organisers present course completion certificates

The experts presented an overview of the main components of an STC system; the international legal basis (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and the international treaties on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons); dual-use goods control regimes around the world; the European Union's legal basis, list of dual-use goods, and enforcement, management and licensing system; border control and the control of the export, transit and transhipment of dual-use goods; risk management tools for licensing, compliance and WMD proliferation risks; investigation and prosecution; inter-agency coordination and international cooperation; and internal compliance programmes and information transparency on the part of businesses. The Course also shared the experience of the European Union and several other countries in controlling strategic trade and WMD-related dual-use goods. The content of the Course was very comprehensive and was aimed at all audiences, from government agencies to private businesses and research and training institutions.

The Course programme devoted particular time to emerging technologies, tangible and intangible technologies and the challenges of controlling their export (robotics development technology, digital currencies, unmanned devices, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, satellite information technology, new materials, etc.). These technologies make a huge contribution to the development of science and technology and have great potential for practical application. However, controlling these technologies is unprecedented and has not yet been addressed in any specific legal regime. The problem becomes more dangerous for global security when the above-mentioned emerging technologies are used by terrorist organisations, since transfers through exports are very difficult to control.

Vietnamese delegates pose for a photo with representatives of the EU P2P Programme, the University of Liège and the University of Barcelona.

Attending the Course helped officers of the Chemical Corps – Standing Office 81 to update their knowledge and learn from the experience of countries in the region and around the world in controlling dual-use goods in particular and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in general. This content can be studied and applied in drafting legal normative documents such as the Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Decree on the control of strategic trade and dual-use goods.

Cao Dang Luu (Centre 81)