18. MILIPOL - November 2025

🚨 DefenseWise was at MILIPOL Paris 2025 ! 🚨

We had the pleasure of being an exhibitor this year at MILIPOL, the leading global event dedicated to safety and security.

A huge thank you to everyone who visited our booth — clients, partners, institutions, and industry professionals. 

These 4 days were the opportunity to:

🔹 showcase our service offering, including our engaging training program "Escape Game Export Control"

🔹discuss current challenges and emerging regulatory issues across the sector (e.g. U.S. armored-related items reform, the new EU Packaging Regulation, firearms marking requirements, the complexity of UAV & C-UAV classification, CMMC / CUI audit expectations etc.)

🔹 explore new synergies and promising collaboration opportunities.

17. Defense Workshop - Namur - October 2025

On October 17 in Namur, Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) brought together the Walloon defense ecosystem for a strategic workshop focused on European and international opportunities in the sector 👇

Maxime Woitrin expertly framed the various European initiatives in context: a rapidly evolving landscape where industrial sovereignty is more critical than ever.

👉 Not sure which program fits your business best — EDF, EUDIS, SAFE, EDIP, etc.? DefenseWise SRL helps you identify the most relevant schemes and maximize their impact.

The SPW Economie Emploi Recherche, NCP Wallonie and IGNITY then highlighted European and international programs available to Walloon actors - a rich panorama of opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and position yourself globally.

👉 Our experts, Fabio FERRETTI and​ Charlotte VILLATTE, are both Legal Mentors/Experts within NATO DIANA - let's talk !

Pôle MecaTech, Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and Skywin shared their methodology to turn industrial ambitions into concrete projects and international success.

👉 Going international means export compliance so do not forget to classify your products and services - a crucial step where DefenseWise SRL can guide you from diagnosis to implementation.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) was also present, underlining the key role Walloon companies play in European and Atlantic supply chains.

⚠️ Don’t wait - register your products and services on their platform !

Finally, Wallonie Entreprendre clarified the funding mechanisms available to support innovation and growth in defense and dual-use sectors.

🤝 The morning confirmed it: Wallonia has all the assets and the right partners to become a strategic player in the European defense revival. And on regulatory matters, DefenseWise is here to guide you every step of the way!🧭

16. Conference: A Decade of Sanctions & Export Controls – 10th Anniversary Edition  - October 2025

Many thanks to International Chamber of Commerce in Belgium | ICC Belgium and FEB - Fédération des Entreprises de Belgique for hosting such an insightful conference, and to all the excellent panellists who made it truly valuable.

👇 Key takeaways:

• « Economic security is national security » (Bert Gevers, Loyens & Loeff) : a statement that resonates more than ever, especially in light of recent developments like the Netherlands’ decision in the Nexperia case..
• David O’Sullivan (EU Commission) highlighted the growing debate around extraterritoriality of export controls : indeed, third countries are pushing back, and the G7’s influence is no longer what it once was.
• Ambassador Jean-Arthur Régibeau shared fascinating insights from his experience both in the US and Russia.
• Differences in EU national export control practices remain striking : for instance, the formal assessment of the non dual-use nature of an item by competent authorities is quite standard in Belgium (attestation de non-visé) and Sweden but this is not the case across all Member States.
• We see a clear shift in dynamics with the rise of FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) screening: investors increasingly alert authorities to the potential dual-use nature of "targeted" businesses' portfolios.
• Export controls and banking: in addition to specific U.S. guidance on the matter, banks have to be increasingly vigilant and aware of the dual-use regime in the context of their due diligence.
• Updates from BIS practice were greatly appreciated in the context of the current shutdown - an occasion to learn more about the affiliate rule (50%). ⚠️ Do not forget the 1st December deadline !

📩  Questions or reflections? Feel free to contact us!

15. European Defense & Security Conference - October 2025

On October 14th, DefenseWise attended the 5th European Defense & Security Conference in Brussels, expertly organized by Business Bridge Europe & Logos.

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As Europe strengthens its defense industrial base, the discussions revealed pressing questions about regulation, cooperation, and innovation. Here are some of the key takeaways shared by the panelists:

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🤝 IP & Trust: The EU Cooperation Hurdle

🎤 Matteo Bisceglia (SVP Naval Product Development & Partnering, Fincantieri) : « IP blockage through competition remains a major barrier to true EU defense cooperation »

☑️ Solution ? More trust among EU players is crucial for success.

⚡ Innovation & Speed: Lessons from Ukraine

💡 The conflict in Ukraine has shown that innovating and scaling up at high speed and low cost is critical.

⚠️  Reality check: European actors are not yet there.

👥 The Human Factor: Beyond Forward Readiness

🎤 Carlo Ferlito (CEO & GM, Beretta) : « We will never be fully ready for the next war because it’s never what you expect. The human factor remains the decisive element. »

🧭 True resilience goes beyond technology - it requires strengthening both civil and military preparedness and awareness across Europe.

❓ The Unresolved Question: What’s Next After Ukraine?

🎤 A European Commission official off the records raised the pressing issue: "Can EU democracies sustain this defense and preparedness effort in the long run once the war in Ukraine is over?"

👉 DefenseWise’s Stance

We’re acutely aware of these challenges. That’s why we advocate for simplification and optimization of EU instruments, like the Omnibus Defense reform of Directive 2009/43. .

🔗 Learn more about our perspective: https://lnkd.in/ez2RjbNF

14. Networking Event - Residency of the Belgian Ambassador to the United Kingdom & DSEI UK - September 2025

 On September 8th, we had the privilege of delivering a seminar on "UK & BE Export Control" at the Residence of the Ambassador of Belgium to the United Kingdom in London, followed by a fantastic networking reception. Many thanks to Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade for such a well-organised day and a special thanks to Baudouin de Hemptinne and Patricia Weyts for their warm welcome.  

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For those who couldn't attend - below are some key takeaways from our seminar :

📌 Brexit did not significantly disrupt defense trade between the UK and Belgium – in fact, export licenses remained steady or even increased.

📌The UK is now treated as a third country for military trade with Belgium, including for the trade of dual-use items, but certain facilitation measures have been implemented in this regard.

📌 Northern Ireland has a special status under the Northern Ireland Protocol, ensuring smoother trade flows with Belgium and the EU in general.

📌 Each Belgian region has its own procedures, templates, and administrative culture, requiring tailored approaches.

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On September 9th, we visited DSEI, an excellent opportunity to explore the latest defense innovations and connect with key industry players. 🚀

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Once again, we observed a strong political and industrial will to strengthen collaboration between the EU and the UK. We’re leaving London energized and motivated to continue building bridges between defense and dual-use stakeholders across Europe and the UK, particularly in terms of regulatory compliance and export control 🌍

13. Belgium National Day - 21 July 2025

🇧🇪 Happy National Day, Belgium ! 🇧🇪

Today, we celebrate a nation rich in culture, full of warmth, and a key pillar of the EU's defense and security ! 

A big thank you to La Défense and the European Commission and their teams for their impressive stands - a perfect blend of creativity, innovation, and public engagement.

We hope the next generations will be just as inspired as we are and ready to follow in such footsteps!

🖤💛❤️

12. International Paris Air Show - Le Bourget - June 2025

Today, we had the pleasure of visiting the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget – a must-attend event for professionals in the aerospace, space, and advanced technology sectors.

🌍  2,500 exhibitors, 48 countries represented, 70 hectares of exhibition space!

Between spectacular flight demonstrations, cutting-edge innovations, and exchanges with key industry players – including national associations and regional clusters representing the sector – the day was filled with valuable encounters and promising prospects!

11. Networking event in preparation of DSEI - Residence of the Belgian ambassador in the UK - June 2025

We were truly honoured to be welcomed yesterday at the residence of the Belgian Ambassador to the UK, in the beautiful district of Belgravia in London.

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👇 Two key messages emerged from all our discussions:

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🔧 There is a growing need to streamline export control procedures across the defense supply chain — current administrative burdens and delays are too high, slowing down vital cooperation.

🤝Brexit was not - and is not - the end of EU-UK relations. On the contrary, we’re seeing a renewed and genuine willingness to collaborate, move forward together, and build stronger bridges.

📰 While headlines focus on the US Pentagon’s review of the 2021 AUKUS pact (between the UK, USA, and Australia), reflecting a renewed “America First” approach, EU-UK cooperation is clearly gaining momentum. The Security and Defence Partnership signed on May 19 between the UK and the EU is a strong signal of this shared commitment.

🌍 DefenseWise is looking forward to supporting the UK defence industry through regulatory challenges, especially in today’s context of geopolitical uncertainty and evolving EU & UK legal frameworks.

🙏 A special thank you to Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) for their continuous support and engagement.

10. Industry Workshop - European Defence Agency - June 2025

Today’s EDA Defence Industry Conference was an excellent opportunity to address key challenges and opportunities in our sector — from supply chain resilience to cross-border cooperation.

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👇  Here are a few highlights from the discussions:

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🔹 Capability Development & Armament Procurement

• 22 priorities were defined in 2023, the focus is now on implementation. Four Letters of Intent (LoI) have already been signed, and we’re proud to see that Belgium signed all four.
• A G2G matchmaking portal entered in service last week.
• Two key concepts: capability objectives and collaborative activities.

🔹 Research, Technology & Innovation

• The ecosystem is dynamic, with around 84 ad hoc projects currently underway, covering TRL 3 to TRL 6.

🔹 Industry Synergies & Enablers

Key actions taken in terms of:

• security of supply (4 working groups established),
• access to finance (MoU with the European Investment Bank, upcoming investment guidelines for the defense sector, Identifunding tool),
• "Single European Sky",
• circularity, REACH & PFAS restrictions,
• databases (EU standards; test centers, B2B platform matchmaking).

🔹 EU Commission

• 16 Member States expressed interest in activating the national escape clause
• Launch of EUDIS, the first EU-wide Defence Business Accelerator powered by the European Commission
• Publication of SAFE to boost investments in defence industrial production
• High expectations for the upcoming Omnibus (to be published in June - 🕵‍♀️ Stay tuned - You can count on DefenseWise SRL to keep you informed and support you in the best way possible !)

🔹 European External Action Service

• 6 security & defense partnerships were signed with non-EU countries
• Importance of EU-NATO dialogue
• EU support to Ukraine’s Defence Industrial Base.

🙏  A big thank you to European Defence Agency for a well-organized event reinforcing the crucial bridge between policy and industry.

9. Preview of the Belgian Economic Mission to the West Coast of the United States - June 2025

The Trade4U seminar, organized by Fabienne L'Hoost (Belgian Foreign Trade Agency), set the tone for the upcoming Economic Mission to California, presided over by Princess Astrid (from October 4 to 12, 2025).

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Below some key highlights: 

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📆  With nearly 130 Belgian companies across various sectors expected to participate, this mission represents a unique platform for fostering transatlantic business ties - ideal for U.S. companies looking to enter the European market via Belgium, and Belgian businesses seeking U.S. partnerships.

👥 Backed by 4 (possibly 5!) ministers, including representatives from all three Belgian regions and potentially two Federal Ministers, the mission showcases the strength of unified governmental support. A warm thank you to the U.S. Embassy in Belgium for their involvement and to the Regional Delegates (Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX), FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade and hub.brussels-Americas) for their strategic insights into Californian market opportunities!

📊 Why California ?

• $62 billion in bilateral trade
• $71 billion in direct Belgian investments
• 230,000 U.S. jobs supported
• 2nd largest U.S. exporter and the 4th largest global economy (if it were a country!)

🔍 Key Focus Sectors: Eight priority sectors will be represented, with special emphasis on the Defense Sector, supported by Defense Minister Theo Francken.

👏A special thank you to the Federal Minister for SMEs, Eléonore Simonet, for her dynamic closing remarks, highlighting the importance of our SMEs (over 90% of U.S.-Belgium trade is driven by SMEs !).

📢 Are you a Belgian company targeting the U.S. defense (or dual-use) market? Or a U.S. player seeking a strategic entry point into Europe?

Are you familiar with ITAR and EAR - the U.S. export control regulations with extraterritorial reach ?

DefenseWise is here to help you seize this transatlantic opportunity! Our experts look forward to helping you turn legal complexity into strategic advantage and sustainable business growth. Let’s make this mission a resounding success - together!

8. Defence Tech Day - DIANA - May 2025

📆 DefenseWise had the pleasure of attending the Defence Tech Day on 21.05.2025 at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels.

👥 Our experts, Fabio FERRETTI and Charlotte VILLATTE, proudly contribute as legal coaches/experts within the framework of NATO DIANA – an initiative launched by NATO to support innovators developing dual-use technologies that address key security and defence challenges.

🚀 The event was a great opportunity to discover the pitches of several talented DIANA innovators. We were genuinely impressed by the creativity and technological features of these groundbreaking solutions – though classifying such out-of-the-box ideas will be quite a challenge!💡

👏 A big thank you to IGNITY and The Gate for the flawless organisation and their continued support to the European innovation ecosystem.

We’re excited to accompany DIANA innovators on their regulatory journey! 🌍⚖️

7. International Defence and Security Exhibition of Spain - FEINDEF - May 2025

🤝 A huge thank you to Florence Vanholsbeeck from Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX), and to Alfredo Leonard, Raúl Vela Petit and Real Cuerpo de la Nobleza del Principado de Asturias for such an opportunity and for their warm and friendly welcome – we had an amazing time at FEINDEF 2025!

This fair was a fantastic opportunity to engage with Spanish defense and dual-use companies on export control challenges and to better understand the regulatory challenges they are facing. It was a real pleasure to meet so many key spanish players - thank you to all for your availability and kindness!

One thing is clear: EU strategic autonomy is no longer just a vision on paper. Spain is already delivering:  

✅ ITAR-free systems (pictures👇),

 🇪🇸  Products with up to 65% of Spanish components,

🧩 Strong intra-EU collaboration in the context of consortium,

💡 A highly innovative and forward-looking industrial strategy,

👨‍🎓 Dedicated education programs.

👉 To all Spanish industry stakeholders: we hear you – and would be glad to support your ambitions!

📩 Let’s keep in touch and we look forward to seeing you again soon !

6. Conference "The New EU Defence Industrial Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges for Belgium" - April 2025

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📆 On Friday 25th of April, DefenseWise had the honour of attending the conference "The New EU Defence Industrial Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges for Belgium".

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📌The event gathered distinguished guests, including representatives from the EU Commission, Belgium’s federated entities, leading figures from Belgian defence industry and from the financial sector as well as the Belgian Minister of Defence, Theo Francken.

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Two major challenges for the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDITB) were highlighted:

🔹 Industrial and equipment fragmentation;

🔹 Chronic underinvestment in the defense sector.

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⏳ With time being a critical factor, the upcoming EU Defence Omnibus Proposal - expected this June - will be decisive in strengthening Europe's defence industrial capacities.

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👏 We warmly welcome Belgium’s approval of the 2% GDP defence spending target - a crucial step towards a stronger and more resilient Europe.

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A heartfelt thank you to the Représentation Permanente de la Belgique auprès de l'Union européenne and Itinera Institute vzw for hosting such an inspiring and insightful event!

5. Contact Days - Aerospace & Security - Nordic Countries - April 2025

DefenseWise had the pleasure of deepening its understanding of the Nordic aerospace and security markets but also of Wallonia's cutting-edge cybersecurity capabilities during an event organised on April 24th, at Galaxia site in Transinne, Belgium.

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A big thank you to Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX), Skywin , IDELUX and Nexova for this opportunity !

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4. EDF Info Days - April 2025

👇 Key regulatory take-aways :

📌 Award criteria : New cross-border cooperation

The idea behind the European Defence Fund initiative is to really foster intra-EU cooperation but in practice, you will need to obtain licenses to do so !

➡️ The EU prepared a short tutorial regarding Intra-EU transfers :https://lnkd.in/enxbAGUi

📩  If you still have questions on the topic, please reach out to us - our experts are here to guide you through Directive 2009/43 and assess if you can benefit from any exemption or general transfer license based on your national laws.

📌 Eligibility criteria: Results not controlled  

Speakers raised attention to these two risks :

➡️ « Third-country export rules apply and can contaminate the results »

➡️ Past applications had a lower score because the "technological non-dependency was not sufficiently demonstrated"

📩  If you need help on documenting this aspect, please reach out to us - our experts are here to guide you through export control regulations and assess with you if you fall under U.S. ITAR extra-territorial scope for instance.

📌 Proposal submission : Ethics Self-Assessment

➡️ The EU published a guide :https://lnkd.in/dc26eYW8

➡️ It is the sole responsibility of the participants to ensure that they hold and document the necessary licences (e.g. under Directive 2009/43/EC and Council Common Position 2008/944/FFSP)

➡️ « The development of lethal autonomous weapons without the possibility of meaningful human control over selection and engagement decisions when carrying out strikes against humans are prohibited »

📩 If you need help on these aspects, please reach out to us - our experts are here to guide you through export control regulations.

3. DefenseWise Launch Event & Round table on the topic of semi-finished and specially designed - March 2025

A huge Thank You ! 🌟🎉

Yesterday marked a significant milestone for DefenseWise as we celebrated the launch of our company with an event dedicated to the defense, dual-use, and civil weapons industries!

A special thanks to our panel of experts, to all participants and to the staff of BluePoint Liège, who contributed to making this event a success! 🤝

🎯 But what was the event about ?

🔹 Discussing the current geopolitical dynamics and EU initiatives to bolster EU defense capabilities,

🔹 Providing key legal insights on 3 regulatory topics : essential parts, semi-finished parts and specially-designed components,

🔹 Bringing together industry leaders, institutions, as well as compliance and customs experts to discuss these topics from a legal, strategic, political, technical, and operational perspectives.

👇 A few reminders of the key takeaways:

🌍 The EU is multiplying initiatives to bolster European defense and autonomy (Strategy Compass, EDIS, EDIP, ReArm Europe Plan, White Paper, SAFE proposal etc.).

⚙️ Interchangeability, interoperability, standardisation and common procurement are now the keys to the upcoming defense ecosystem.

⚖️ The concept of essential parts of firearms is defined differently under the EU, U.S. and CIP frameworks.

📊 The CIP is welcoming two new Member States : Serbia & Portugal.

⚖️ The concept of semi-finished parts is the focus of a recent recast of EU Regulation 258/2012 relating to civil firearms. However, the concept of unfinished products is also found in the military and dual-use regulatory frameworks. Thus, it is important not to neglect semi-finished items in your internal compliance processes !

📊 Have a clear overview of your flows from a regulatory & customs perspective and explore customs certification opportunities (RTC/AEO).

⚖️  The concept of specially designed components is crucial to understand the classification of your products - while the U.S adopted a really detailed approach, there is no definition at the EU level except for French guidelines - let's hope the EU Defence Omnibus will solve this weakness !

⚙️ Why not updating the "catch & release" U.S. aproach to new technologies ?

📊 When you develop a product, adopt a "regulatory-by-design" approach.

2. General Assembly - SNAFAM - March 2025​

We are truly honored to have participated in the General Assembly of SNAFAM – the National Professional Union of the Armory Sector – and to have had the opportunity to engage with its members on this occasion.

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📍A highly informative event, highlighted by essential discussions on the sector's regulatory framework, brilliantly led by Bertille Seive and Yvan Pham.

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🎯🏔️ The day continued with a visit to the National Center for Nordic Skiing and Mid-Mountain Activities, followed by an introduction to biathlon under their expert guidance – a truly captivating experience that won us over completely!

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👏 A huge thank you once again for this moment of conviviality, these valuable exchanges on key industry topics, and this unforgettable experience!

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1. Enforce Tac - February 2025​

We are excited to confirm our presence as speakers at Enforce Tac, a leading event for professionals of the defense, law enforcement, and security sectors, taking place in Nuremberg (Germany) from February 25th to 27th.

Don't miss our presentation on Tuesday 25.02.25 at 5pm on the topic of : 

"Less Lethal & Innovation - Ensuring Market Readiness Through Compliance"

In the fast moving field of less lethal solutions, innovation but also regulatory compliance remain decisive factors for success. This presentation summarizes the critical strategic and legal considerations the law enforcement industry must address when developing such solutions.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into essential compliance checkpoints to facilitate market entry and long-term success, ranging from technology transfers and complex product classifications to licensing requirements and the challenges posed by product definitions.

🗓️Join Fabio FERRETTI and Charlotte VILLATTE on February 25th - Hall 10.0, Stand 10.0-549 for an informative session on ensuring optimal market readiness through innovation and regulatory compliance.