Thirteenth Coordination Meeting Highlights Achievements and Future Commitments in SALW Control in the Western Balkans

The 13th Regional Roadmap Coordination Meeting, held on 8–9 July 2025 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, marked a major milestone by closing the first implementation phase (2019–2024) of the Roadmap for a Sustainable Solution to the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their Ammunition in the Western Balkans.

The event gathered more than 100 participants in person and online, including representatives from the SALW Commissions of the Western Balkans, international and regional organizations involved in arms control, and key donor countries — the European Union, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. As part of their exchange visit to the Western Balkans, the delegation of the Republic of Honduras participated in the meeting to engage with regional counterparts and exchange experiences.

This symbolic closure of Phase I of Roadmap implementation provided a vital opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved over the past years and set the tone for the upcoming implementation period of the Roadmap 2025–2030. The meeting served as a platform to coordinate ongoing and future actions under the Roadmap, review implementation narratives submitted by jurisdictions, and reflect on contributions from donors and partners.

The 13th Regional Progress Reports on the implementation of the Roadmap, covering progress in the period from 1 July to 31 December 2024 and data from the Key Performance Indicators Reports for the period 1 January- 31 December 2024, was presented at the meeting. Prepared by SEESAC with inputs from six Western Balkan jurisdictions, the reports highlighted several key trends and developments across the region:

  • Legislative Alignment: All jurisdictions continued efforts to align their SALW-related legislation with the EU Acquis. Draft laws on weapons and explosives are at varying stages of development. Three jurisdictions report full compliance of their Criminal Codes with the UN Firearms Protocol, while others indicated ongoing harmonization processes.
  • Strategic Frameworks: Valid SALW control strategies were under implementation in 2024 in Tirana, Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Skopje, and Sarajevo, with strategies in Belgrade, Tirana, and Skopje expiring at the end of 2024. These jurisdictions reported that new strategies are either being developed or planned for 2025.
  • Firearms Focal Points (FFPs): FFPs are established in five jurisdictions (Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Skopje, and Tirana) and are operational in four. Efforts to establish an FFP in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain ongoing. All jurisdictions reported enhanced investigative capacities and participation in joint operations, including Joint Action Days and other regional cooperation initiatives.
  • Ballistic and forensic capacities: Most jurisdictions reported intensified efforts to accredit their ballistic laboratories, with some completing the accreditation process for specific forensic methods. All jurisdictions received training and specialized equipment to strengthen forensic and ballistic capabilities.
  • Firearms Reduction Measures: Several jurisdictions implemented voluntary surrender, legalization, and deactivation campaigns to reduce firearms in illegal possession. In 2024, a total of 32,066 firearms were voluntarily surrendered. Destruction of confiscated and surplus firearms and ammunition continued between 2018 and 2024. During this period, a total of 21,148 confiscated firearms and 168,566 rounds of confiscated ammunition were destroyed across the region. In addition, authorities destroyed 46,491 surplus weapons and approximately 16 million rounds of surplus ammunition.
  • Awareness-Raising: All jurisdictions reported conducting awareness-raising campaigns, although outreach to legal entities remains limited in some cases. Notably, reports of celebratory shootings increased in 2024, particularly during the summer — a trend attributed to increased public awareness and improved reporting by both citizens and police.
  • Lost and Stolen Weapons: All jurisdictions reported incidents of lost or stolen firearms in 2024, though figures were lower than in 2023. Between 2018 and 2024, a total of 66,528 firearms were reported lost or stolen, involving civilians, private entities, and institutions.
  • Seizures inland and at the borders: Since 2018, jurisdictions in the Western Balkans have seized over 35,000 firearms inland and nearly 1,200 at border crossings. In addition, more than 1.1 million rounds of ammunition have been seized inland, alongside over 80,000 rounds at the borders.

The meeting was opened with addresses from high-level representatives who reaffirmed support for the Roadmap and recognized the region’s achievements:

  • Mr. Bakir Dautbašić, Secretary of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirmed BiH’s political commitment and highlighted progress in aligning legislation with EU law, improving stockpile management, and strengthening border controls.
  • H.E. Olivier Caron, Special Envoy for Counterterrorism and the Fight against Organized Crime, France, praised the Western Balkans’ efforts, calling the Roadmap “a good reference point” for other regions. He emphasized the role of SALW Commissions and shared examples of international experience exchange with Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, and Honduras.
  • H.E. Stephan Klement, EU Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (via video message), emphasized the cross-border nature of SALW control, its human security dimension, and the importance of jurisdictional ownership. He also stressed the need for continued legislative harmonization and international cooperation.
  • Dr. Benedikt Zanker, Head of Division, Conventional Arms Control, German Federal Foreign Office, acknowledged the transition from Phase I to Phase II of the Roadmap and reiterated Germany’s continued donor support. He emphasized the Roadmap’s relevance as a model for other regions, including ECOWAS, the Caribbean, and Central America, and shared insights from the Preparatory Meeting of the Global Framework on Ammunition Management.
  • Mr. Arslan Umut Ergezer, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), underlined that security is a key pillar of sustainable development and reiterated RCC’s ongoing support. He presented data from the Western Balkans Security Barometer, illustrating how awareness-raising and regional cooperation contribute to building trust in institutions.
  • Ms. Steliana Nedera, Manager of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (online) reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment as an implementing partner but also in its role of coordinating and monitoring the efforts through SEESAC. She noted the completion of four regional projects and the provision of additional funding from the Netherlands. Ms. Nedera also drew attention to the worrying trend of firearm-related gender-based violence, which nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024, underscoring the need for strengthened institutional responses.

In summarizing the results of the previous period, SEESAC published several knowledge products, including:

These publications were distributed during the meeting and are available on the SEESAC website.

The Regional Roadmap Coordination Meetings are organized with the financial support of the European Union, through its Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321 in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans.
 

More information on the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap is available here. 

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