Arms Exports Reports
Compliance with the relevant European Union (EU) legislation and policies concerning Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is highly desirable for the nations of the Western Balkans as they move towards further European integration. In particular, the Western Balkans countries have to comply with the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, adopted on 8 December 2008, defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment.
In 2006, SEESAC initiated, with the Western Balkan countries, the process of developing annual national reports on arms exports. Since then SEESAC has provided continuous assistance to the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. As a result these countries are able today to produce annual national arms exports reports. In 2009 SEESAC has been assisting Albania in developing such a report by providing technical assistance to the newly established Albanian State Export Control Authority. SEESAC has also continued to provide advice and support for the improvement of the national reports of the other Western Balkan countries.
In July 2009, SEESAC achieved a major political breakthrough by securing the political support for the development of a Regional Report on Arms Exports. Government representatives of Albania, BiH, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, agreed on the format and timetable for the publication of such a report.
