Nuclear suppliers’ enhanced export control compliance and communication with authorities

The relationship between industry and authorities represents one of the most pressing export control issues in Europe and worldwide. The strategic export control legal framework in its regional or national formulations normally puts responsibility on exporters, whose awareness and compliance are key in making export controls an important non-proliferation tool. Without due collaboration with and contact to authorities, the licensing process would be less effective and illicit procurement could occur more easily, with enforcement measures the only possibly remaining effective barriers to an illegal shipment. However, compliance could be seen by exporters as a burden slowing down trade, or even excessively controlling it, with unavoidable costs that not all exporters can afford, for example SMEs. At the same time, not all goods and destinations are equally sensitive. An adequate risk analysis, cost/benefit , discussion and consideration of incentives as well as enhanced collaboration could bring such an approach even further, providing useful information to the authorities and simplified procedures for exporters. While the topic has been discussed repeatedly over the years, concrete and significant changes to the relationship have yet to be conceptualized or implemented. The ESARDA export control working group recently held a meeting to identify concrete ways in which industry and authorities can communicate and cooperate more effectively in order to achieve common non-proliferation goals and aim towards a risk-based export control approach. The conclusions of the meeting and further reflections are presented in the paper.

SEVINI Filippo;  VISKI Andrea;  CHATELUS Renaud;  CHARATSIS Christos;  MICHEL Quentin;  ZERO Sandro; 

2015-10-07

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC96028

978-92-79-49495-6,   

1831-9424,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC96028,   

10.2789/099293,