The Council of the European Union, in a note issued on 16 July 2026 by its General Secretariat, has declared null and void the Commission Staff Working Document containing comprehensive data sets on export controls of dual-use items for the year 2024. The document, distributed under number ST 11938/26 ADD 1, is withdrawn and has no legal effect. The note does not provide reasons for the nullification or indicate whether a replacement document will be issued.
The withdrawn document was intended to accompany the 2024 implementation report on Regulation (EU) 2021/821, which sets up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The regulation, adopted in 2021, requires the Commission to report annually on its implementation and to provide supporting data. The nullification of the data set document means that stakeholders, including exporters, national licensing authorities, and industry associations, will not have access to the statistical overview of dual-use trade flows and licensing activities for 2024 that the document was meant to provide.
The Council's decision to void the document may affect transparency and the ability of member states and economic operators to assess trends in dual-use export controls. It remains unclear whether the Commission will reissue the data set or if the implementation report itself will be affected. The note does not specify any institutional follow-up, leaving the next steps uncertain for the dual-use export control regime.