Working together in the Western Balkans – key to European security

Interior Ministers from the Western Balkans met with Ministers of Home Affairs of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria, and the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship in Sofia, at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs.

27 October, Sofia, Bulgaria

At this year’s forum, interior ministers from the Western Balkans, the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, representing the European Commission, as well as the Ministers of Home Affairs of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria, representing the Presidency of the EU, discussed a wide range of cross-border issues including migration, counter-terrorism, radicalization and the fight against firearms trafficking.

Among other topics, the Ministers took stock of their continuous efforts to address firearms trafficking and discussed progress achieved in implementation of the Joint Statement on Enhancing the Fight Against Illicit Trafficking of Firearms and Ammunition in the Western Balkans endorsed at their meeting in 2016. They committed to continue to carry out joint actions to enhance seizures of firearms, ammunition and explosives, to improve security of firearms and ammunition storage capacities, and to periodic disposals of surplus arms and ammunition, particularly those confiscated from illegal activities.

SEESAC coordinator, Bojana Balon, addressed the forum, sharing results achieved in the Western Balkans with EU support in the context of combatting the trafficking of SALW. Among the results achieved in 2017, she highlighted the destruction of over 22,000 pieces of SALW, and over 236,000 pieces of ammunition. She also mentioned the launch of the Gender Coach Programme, which provides one-on-one support to leaders in public institutions to make gender responsiveness the norm in their ministries. Also, Bojana pointed out what the future of SEESAC`s partnership with Ministries of Interior will focus on: providing training and equipment for the establishment of Firearms Focal Points – an advanced system of firearms investigation.

SEESAC participates in international meetings, such as the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, to share expertise and experience and contribute to making South East Europe a safer region.