On 21-22 June 2010 in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), SEESAC organized a meeting to discuss the Second Regional Report on Arms Exports. The meeting was attended by delegations from Albania, BiH, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The meeting began with a discussion on the main challenges associated with gathering information from the Customs and arms exporters on the utilization of export licenses. Participants also shared ideas on specific activities to improve data gathering on the utilization of export licenses and thus better represent real exports.

The second session focused on the preparation of the Second Regional Report on Arms Exports and the introduction of a new category in the report, namely information on the number of brokering licenses that have been granted and denied. The goal of this session was to agree whether this information can be provided by all countries, to confirm the schedule for data submission, lessons learned and other actions to be taken to produce the Second Regional Report.

The first day of the meeting ended with the presentation of the draft EU Regulation implementing Article 10 of the United Nations' Firearms Protocol and establishing export authorization, import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. Participants were made aware of the proposed changes in EU legislation and discussion centered on the possible implications for the Western Balkans.

The focus of the second day of the meeting was on the need to increase public awareness of regional achievements in the field of arms export control. Delegations discussed joint approaches in promoting success at regional and national level and specific measures for raising awareness.

The production of a regional annual report on arms exports is intended to help to consolidate the gains in transparency that have already been made in the region, while also demonstrate an ability and willingness to uphold the commitments associated with the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment. The report is a practical example of successful co-operation within the framework of the Regional Co-operation Council (RCC). Moreover the report is evidence of the existing administrative capacity in the region and the desire to further comply with EU policies in the field of export controls.