To catalyse the formation of an European Union in-reach training curriculum and complement the current initiatives implemented by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), the US Department of Energy, The World Customs Organization and individual Member States (MS) authorities, the JRC in collaboration with competent European Commission directorates (DG TAXUD and DG TRADE), organized the first pilot export control simulation exercise for customs and licensing officers (SimEX 2015).
Although dedicated to EU MS, this experience could also inspire similar exercises in other parts of the world, and the lessons learned should benefit the EU outreach program through the experience gained by participating EU experts.
The exercise was held on March 17-19, 2015 at JRC-Ispra and saw the participation of 6 licensing officers and 11 customs officers from 12 MS, working for two days on simulated scenarios and realistic conditions in two fictitious MS, each one having a customs and a licensing team. The exercise was prepared and managed by a Master Team playing the role of various export control actors, with the purpose of tackling technical, regulatory, procedural and communication topics among different authorities and EU MS.
Additional events are foreseen as follow-up of the successful SimEX 2015 exercise.