This line of work reduced the threat of the illicit trafficking of firearms by enhancing the South-East Europe law-enforcement capacities for marking and tracing through a regional cooperation approach, based on the procurement of equipment, increased gathering, analysis and possibilities for sharing of data, information and evidence. Six South-East Europe Firearms Experts Network (SEEFEN) meetings convened throughout the duration of the project, contributed to increased operational cooperation and exchange of information among law enforcement in SEE and with EU specialized agencies.
7th SEEFEN meeting: 18-19 May 2017, Jahorina
8th SEEFEN meeting: 23-24 November 2017, Skopje
9th SEEFEN meeting: 31 May-1 June 2018, Tirana
10th SEEFEN meeting: 20-21 November 2018, Budva
11th SEEFEN meeting: 14-15 May 2019, Sarajevo
12th SEEFEN meeting: 26-27 November 2019, Novi Sad
The project also supported the establishment of Firearms Focal Points, as central information collection and analytical units supporting investigators and prosecutors in building the intelligence picture on firearms related crimes including trafficking from and through SEE. By the end of the project, five beneficiaries (Albania, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) reported the establishment of the Firearms Focal Points (FFPs), which is an important milestone for the law enforcement services in the region, while the capacities of the already existing FFP in Kosovo[1] were strengthened. The newly established FFPs were equipped with specialized IT equipment for criminal analyses, provided with relevant training and analytical tools as well as on-demand technical and advisory support to ensure effective operations of these units. Additionally, ballistic and forensic capabilities for firearms related investigations were reinforced through the delivery of 7 double casting kits in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Finally, procurement of firearms marking machines for Albania, Kosovo, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia strengthened the capacities of these authorities for tracing of firearms and essential components by enabling import and deactivation marking of firearms in line with the EU standards.
[1] For the United Nations Development Programme, references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.