Disarmament and non-proliferation

Luxembourg perceives disarmament and non-proliferation of conventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as well as their delivery systems, as key components of crisis prevention. Luxembourg is a State party to all regional and international treaties and conventions in this field. Within these forums, as well as in all respective working groups of the European Union (EU), Luxembourg actively engages in fostering peace and international security through the reduction and limitation of arms proliferation.

The adoption and the entry into force of the Law of the 27th of June 2018 on export controls gives the legal framework for enhanced control of operations related to the export and transit of sensitive goods. Further, the law provides a framework for the national implementation of restrictive measures in commercial matters aimed at certain States. Together with the Control office for exports, imports and transit of the Directorate for Foreign Trade and Investment Promotion, the Directorate of political affairs co-signs export and transit licenses for dual-use goods and military goods. On these matters, the Directorate coordinates with other members of the respective interministerial group tasked with export controls.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), in force since 2014, sets strengthened common norms on matters of export controls of arms through the establishment of international standards, thus regulating international trade in conventional arms and eradicating arms proliferation, illicit trade and diversion. The Directorate of political affairs participates in the different working groups and the Conference of State Parties of the ATT. Furthermore, the Directorate of political affairs prepares the annual report on the exports and imports of conventional weapons. Luxembourg is also a member of the five multilateral export control regimes: Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group and Zangger Committee. These five regimes work to prevent the uncontrolled proliferation of arms and dual-use technologies.

In the area of disarmament, the Directorate of political affairs oversees and implements the provisions of key conventions related to the disarmament of conventional weapons and WMD, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Biological Weapons Convention.