Security shifts and power plays: the case of European Union dual-use export control regime development

This thesis examines dual-use export controls and their relationship with the influence of the EU institutions, EU supranational defense industry interest groups and theories of regional integration. The European Union has developed a system for dualuse-export control that could potentially have strong implications for the future of national sovereignty for the member states. There does not currently exist any legally binding regime for export controls among states in the international system, with the exception of the members of the EU. Does the current system actually improve the common dual-use export control policy for the EU over that which previously existed? If the current system has actually improved dual-use technology regulation by the EU, what explanation could provide an answer for how the EU was able to transfer at least partial sovereignty of this national security concern from the national governments to the integrated, supranational level of the EU institutions?