The Regional Workshop on harmonization of legislation in the field of SALW Control with the EU Acquis

The Regional Workshop on harmonization of legislation in the field of SALW Control with the EU Acquis was held online on 28 September 2021 in organization of SEESAC. Representatives of Western Balkan jurisdictions, Moldova and Ukraine gathered to discuss major challenges and their way ahead in harmonization of their respective legislative frameworks with the EU acquis and international standards as well as practical implementation of legislation in the field of SALW.

Delegations presented the state of play regarding the changes of their laws on weapons focusing on challenges they are facing in categorization of firearms and other weapons as well as in production standards for alarm and signal weapons.

They have also reflected on the existing legislative frameworks in the field of civil use of explosives, categorization of explosive materials and transitional provisions towards EU harmonization. Practical implementation of the control on explosive precursors and research methodology implemented in North Macedonia was also presented to the participants of the meeting as a reference point for the development of legal framework in the area of explosive precursors.

Participants referred as well to the extent of integration of the recommendations deriving from the gender screening of SALW related legislation that SEESAC has performed, into their respective laws.

The Regional Workshop on harmonization of legislation in the field of SALW Control with EU Acquis was organized under the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 as a continuation of SEESAC efforts towards legislative standardization and harmonization through continuous and on-demand advisory support on arms laws, regulations at both regional and level of the jurisdictions. As such, this annual gathering directly contributed to the Goal 1 of the of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans that aims to ensure that arms-control legislation in the Western Balkans is in place and fully harmonized with the Union regulatory framework and other related international obligations by 2023.

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