The regulation of arms and dual-use exports

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This study examines the reasons and implications of post-Cold War reforms in arms and dual-use export controls within the European Union, framing the arms export policy process as a system involving the policy environment, stakeholders, and public policies. It includes case studies from the UK, Germany, and Sweden, highlighting the major challenges and paradoxes in regulatory practices. Differences in their approaches—such as export control criteria, controlled goods, decision-making bodies, licensing decisions, and enforcement procedures—stem from each state's unique historical context. The study also shows evidence of policy convergence across the EU. While COCOM facilitated convergence during the Cold War, EU integration became the key driver in the 1990s. Key findings indicate that European integration led to a significant but incomplete convergence in arms and dual-use export controls among the three states, with greater alignment in dual-use technologies than military goods. Convergence accelerated in the late 1990s due to the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and initiatives against illicit small arms trafficking. Additionally, convergence is more advanced in policy-making structures compared to execution, with expectations for further alignment in the coming decade.