Division 5.1 Project objectives

The main objective is to provide technical assistance to a number of beneficiary countries which have demonstrated their willingness to develop their standards and practices regarding arms export control. To do so, the activities to be undertaken will take into account the status of the beneficiary countries, in particular regarding:

• the possible membership of, or application for membership of, international export control regimes relating to the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies,

• the candidatures for membership of the Union and whether the beneficiary countries are official candidates or potential candidates,

• the position regarding the ATT.

Where the beneficiary countries addressed are only signatories to the ATT, the activities should — where feasible — seek to ascertain better what the obstacles to ATT ratification are, in particular where those obstacles are of a juridical or regulatory nature and are related to gaps or needs in implementation capacities. Where relevant, possible Union support under Decision (CFSP) 2017/915 should be promoted. Where the countries addressed have taken no steps towards the Treaty (neither signature, ratification, nor accession), the activities should promote accession to the ATT, possibly with the support of other beneficiary countries that have ratified the ATT.

Another complementary objective is to sensitise a number of third countries to arms diversion risk-assessment and diversion mitigation, both from the exporting and importing perspectives.