On 10 September 2021, representatives from the strategic goods export control authorities of the Baltic States and Nordic countries meet in Jūrmala.
The event was opened by Andris Pelšs, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Control Committee for Strategic Goods.
Export controls means controls over the export, import and transit of strategic goods both between the European Union Member States and to and from third countries.
During the meeting, opinions are aligned in relation to international export control regimes such as the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Australia Group for chemical and biological goods. Latest developments in the formats of the Council of the European Union are also being discussed, as well as analysing the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty and the impact of international sanctions on the movement of dual-use goods. This is of special importance for the region, in view of the restrictive measures imposed by the EU against Belarus.
Officials representing the Baltic and Nordic authorities in charge of control over the export of strategic goods are held twice a year, and Latvia previously welcomed its Baltic and Nordic colleagues in Riga in 2016.
The next meeting of the strategic goods export control authorities of the Baltic States and Nordic countries is planned in Vilnius, Lithuania.