Mr. Chair,

Germany aligns itself with the Statement of the European Union.

Many States comply with their obligations under the NPT, the BTWC or the CWC to prevent the proliferation of WMD as well as goods and technology which can be used to build or develop these WMD by operating functioning export control systems. These systems also serve to fulfil their obligations under UNSCR 1540 to prevent the proliferation of WMD to Non-State-Actors.

Germany is one of those states, as we are a very open economy with many highly specialised companies that produce goods and create technologies for export purposes. In order to transfer proliferation-sensitive dual-use goods and technologies, our authorities need to be confident that these will not be misused in ways that violate our non-proliferation obligations or undermine international and national security.

For Germany, these Export Controls are regulated by the EU, creating uniform conditions for economic actors throughout our common market. In 2024, EU Member States authorised dual-use exports worth 77.6 billion euros. They denied 0.2 billion on security grounds: about a quarter per cent of the overall value.
Our export control system is not a system designed to deny. It is a system designed to authorize - but with confidence.

This transparent system relies on publicised common control lists and criteria that mean: the exporter knows the rules, the importer knows which assurances will be asked, and governments know where the goods end up. Predictability is trade facilitation.

Because an effective national export control system is the entry ticket to economic exchange in sensitive dual use goods and technologies, Germany, the EU and other states support a large number of partner countries in setting up their export control systems, providing assistance on aspects like legislation, licensing, customs and enforcement, outreach to industry and academia, and penalties. Germany does so through its national Export Control Agency BAFA, and in the context of UNSCR 1540 has initiated the Wiesbaden Process on outreach to industry and the Erlangen Process on outreach to Academia.

Through our own export controls, our initiatives and our support in this field for other states we create the confidence, trust and mutual assurances necessary for fostering legitimate trade in dual-use goods and transfer of technologies for peaceful purposes and economic development, whilst at the same time preventing the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

I thank you.