The President’s speech

Merci beaucoup, Messieurs et Dames, chers collègues francophones, le reste de notre réunion se déroulera complètement en anglais. Je me permets de dire bonjour à nos collègues francophones. Soyez les bienvenus ici à Francfort, le siège ou plus précisement le sous-siège de notre bafa, vous savez, se trouve à Eschborn, pas exactement à Francfort.

Je vous souhaite pour le reste de notre réunion des discussions et des échanges très vifs. Si vous avez le temps je vous donne une petite recommandation: Goutez la boisson principale, la boisson typique de notre région à Francfort, le vin de pomme, le Eppelwoi qui a été récemment objectif des discussions à haut niveau à Brussel avec le but d’un embargo total sur le marché commun. Heureusement, après une intervention du premier ministre du land Hessie, voilà, ca ne sera pas le cas. Vous pouvez toujours goûter le eppelwoi, c'est-à-dire un vin pas à base de raisin, mais un vin à base de pommes. Pour les Francophones, une sorte de cidre. Allez vite le goûter.

Now, be it as it may. It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you both from English speaking or French speaking countries or neither of them. You are all welcome to visit the second event of this kind taking place in Frankfurt. The first workshop - some of you might recall it - the kick-off meeting which was held in January 2006, marked by the beginning of BAFA’s engagement in the field of the European Union Outreach. Many of you have attended this workshop and continued to support the project carried out by the BAFA since the beginning.

After now altogether two years of project implementation we think it is time to look back. To look back as well on the achievements we undoubtedly have come to but as well on the shortcomings of our activities. We want to find out about the lessons we have learned but also on the necessary changes and adjustments that we should do. And last but by no means least, I myself  and we altogether from the BAFA, we want to thank those who have provided so much valuable input and support during these years to our work which as you know not only consists of Outreach activities but the normal ground work in the export control business, of course, has to be done in addition. Therefore, let me say it is great that you are all here, that you attend this meeting, join our efforts and our thinking about future activities.

Dear colleagues, Germany and BAFA in particular, attach the greatest importance to the European Union Outreach and to the implementation of three projects currently carried out by our administration.

We in the BAFA are working in this context closely with the German Ministry of Economy and Technology, but equally intensively with the Foreign Office and other important actors - as we have found out - for optimal results.

The challenges that we face now are numerous with growing projects and further areas of activity and with the overall general growth of world trade.    

With your support BAFA can respond to the challenges by extending the cooperation with you, with all the other actors in the field and by enlarging the number of in-house staff in charge with the project work. The European Union Outreach is one of the visible manifestations of the EU security policy which is based on an European strategy identifying the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. You know, the WMD is potentially the greatest threat to Europe’s security.

Therefore reinforcing export control is one of the cornerstones in the fight against proliferation together with political dialogue and cooperation. At the same time it can be seen as part of our common trade and export competition strategy and policy by creating a field for our exporters and companies we are fostering their chances in a globalised world and on the world market. If all the competitors stick to the same standards life can be easier.  Thus, European Outreach and technical assistance to third countries’ legitimate security interest but also to our economic policy.  

With our project work we substantially contribute to the development of capacities in partner countries either to help set up their national export control systems or alternatively to gradually introduce international standards into their already existing national systems. Thus we significantly enhance the effectiveness of export control on the national, on the regional and on the global level.

It is very clear to me and I suppose also to you, this can only be achieved through common effort of all the European Union Member States.

The most important objectives we are aiming at are threefold:

1. The implementation of standards of UN-1540 council are undoubtedly the overwhelming and control benchmark for outreach in export control.
2. The Stipulation of the European Union WMD strategy identifies the introduction of common standards of control to prevent proliferation as an imperative measure.
3. I believe that it is worth noting that our project work not only aims at reaching a common understanding on what export controls are but also to convey what can be called the European Best Practice. With the different legal and administrative traditions to be found in all 27 European Member States we can offer to our Outreach partners outside the union more than one solution to the problems.

This is one of the most important distinguishing characteristics of our activities in this field to quote a person not in this room  and not in the administration any more “this is the typical old European style”, not a take-it-or-leave-it concept, no patronising, but approach and diversity like the European Union.

However, the number of actors in this field is increasing and the need for expertise and long standing experience growing and it is important to step up coordination efforts. In particular, we must avoid duplication. Wherever, there are synergies possible between two or more projects or actions or actors we should strive to do so.