Germany
Assistance offer
| Type(s)of Assistance: | Expertise, Financial | Scope: | Legal, Implementation |
| Regions: | All |
| Subject(s): | WMD Disarmament, Export Controls, Chemical, Physical Protection |
The German government attaches great importance to assisting partner countries where necessary and requested in fulfilling their international obligations in the field of dismantlement, export control and non-proliferation of WMD.
The Federal Government supports bilaterally through its implementing agencies (Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), Customs Authority) the establishment and further development of UNSCR resolution 1540 (2004) related national export control systems in several Partner countries all over the world. In this regard Germany initiated in 2011 the “Wiesbaden Process”. This project aims bringing representatives of governments, regulators and industry together in a dialogue on 1540 related export controls and non-proliferation issues. The process is ongoing with biennial Wiesbaden Conference since 2011, and yearly regional Wiesbaden conferences held in cooperation with Partner countries in several regions around the world. Through this ongoing process, stakeholder engagement in the implementation of resolution 1540 is continuously expanded.
Expanding on the success of the Wiesbaden Process Since 2023 Germany launched the “Erlangen Initiative” open to Partner countries all over the world to similarly strengthen the inclusion of academia in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction through effective export controls.
In addition, the German government launched its export control assistance project „Enhancing Export Control Capacities of Countries for Implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) worldwide” in 2023. The project offers support for countries seeking to strengthen their export control system in line with the requirements of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) and international standards through technical assistance, regional and national workshops and events.
Last, since 2018, Germany is running national outreach activities that include capacity-building on the implementation of UN imposed restrictive measures for Partner Countries in Southeast Asia (ASEAN). While the focus of this project is to support states in the ASEAN region in implementing effective sanction regimes, it also supports discussions regarding effective export control systems relevant to obligations of UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) as they often build base for effective sanction implementation.
All this support shall be maintained and partly expanded.
Furthermore, Germany has extended assistance in the field of national implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) obligations to several countries, e.g. by providing extensive support to the destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles. Germany also supports capacity-building initiatives to strengthen, among others, civil protection capabilities.
In addition, Germany has been advising and supporting nations in designing and improving their national systems for physical protection on a bilateral basis. This support will continue as far as the financial resources will allow.
Assistance Through International Organizations
Germany has pledged up to 1.5 billion US dollars for projects within the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction launched at the G-8 Summit 2002 in Kananaskis. Among other initiatives, Germany supported the destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles in Russia with over 360 million euros.
Germany supports activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to provide assistance to its member states regarding the implementation of the CWC, e.g. through voluntary contributions to its Trust Funds for Training and the provision of training courses. Within the framework of the OPCW Twinning Initiative, a capacity-building initiative that aims at expanding the network of OPCW Designated Laboratories, Germany conducts a laboratory cooperation with Algeria.
Germany also supports, since 2006, through its Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), the P2P Export Control Outreach Projects of the European Union (EU). Project work is designed to, among other, assist States to implement their 1540 related export control obligations. While funding is provided by the EU, Germany’s BAFA is the implementing agency for project work with different partner countries from non-EU member states. This as follows:
- Assistance by Germany is provided under P2P Project 89. Most recent project work in the area of export control of dual-use goods started in January 2022 as a direct follow-up to the predecessor Project 38. It has a duration of 30 months and includes the former partner countries of Project 38 – Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon - and more recently the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Starting from November 1, 2023, assistance will be provided under the EU P2P Export Control Program for Dual-Use Goods - Central Asia for the partner countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). It will have a duration of 36 months.
Next to that Germany trough BAFA also provides assistance within an outreach project (EU Project 64) implemented by a consortium led by the French organisation Expertise France, Within the framework of this project, BAFA provides for the role of Regional Coordinator responsible for cooperation with countries of South Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). Additional partner countries under this project are Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia as well as Georgia and Ukraine. Project 64 is set to end at the end of 2023, with a follow-up project already on the way.
In all the project work conducted by Germany, where appropriate, action plans or roadmaps are agreed upon with partner countries, which may include individual assistance measures as well as regional activities. The aim is to continue individual support in the area of export control of dual-use goods and to further strengthen existing relations and regional cooperation. The activities consider the current state of export controls in the respective partner countries and include, among others, advice on the introduction of export controls for dual-use goods, outreach-to-industry events and specific support in processing applications.
Since 2013 Germany has been supporting partner countries primarily in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa in strengthening their capacities in the area of biosecurity, under the auspices of the G7 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and in the framework of Art. X (International Cooperation) of the Biological Weapons Convention.
As a member of the "Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership" Germany supported its nuclear window with 10 million euro up to 2007.
Germany has been actively supporting the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund, which helps to implement programmes to improve the physical protection of nuclear materials and radioactive sources, through in-kind contributions (experts in physical protection) plus financial contributions of 10,5 million euro since 2002.