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Building on Success: EU Reaffirms Support for Arms Control in the Western Balkans

On 2 December 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted a new Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3006 allocating 4 million EUR  to continue support  for reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, for the period 2025-2028.

The implementation of this newly adopted Council Decision which is building on the EU Council Decision 2019/2111, will contribute to:

  • strengthened regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and information‑sharing on arms control;
  • enhanced capacities of customs authorities, border police ,and criminal police services of the Western Balkans for countering illicit trafficking and possession of firearms;
  • improved capacities for physical security and stockpile management through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction, and training.

The project will provide support to the authorities in the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

The adoption of CD 2024/3006 demonstrates the European Union's dedication to combatting illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of firearms, as well as the region's united effort to enhance SALW control as a crucial element for promoting long-term security and stability, both within the region and across the EU.

Since 2002, SEESAC has been providing comprehensive support to the authorities in the region in strengthening the SALW control efforts with the EU’s support, including:

  • Facilitation of several regional platforms dedicated to SALW control at the strategic and operational levels,
  • Coordination of stakeholders, collection of data, analysis, and development of knowledge products, and monitoring of progress.
  • Targeted measures on the ground leading to capacity development of institutions involved in SALW control,  
  • Support of evidence-based policymaking and harmonization of arms-control legislation with the international obligations and standards;
  • Capacity building of law enforcement and border authorities for prevention and countering illicit arms trafficking
  • Improvement of capacities for physical security and stockpile management through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction, and training.

In addition to this, SEESAC has been supporting the authorities in raising awareness on the dangers of misuse of SALW, supported SALW collection campaigns, and worked to strengthen the gender perspective in SALW control policymaking, thus supporting the authorities in combatting illegal possession, misuse, and trafficking of SALW.

The upcoming activities will build upon the results previously achieved in the scope of implementation of EU Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP, Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356, Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788, Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321, Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111, and the Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse, and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans project funded by the European Commission and implemented by SEESAC.

Through its work, SEESAC directly contributes to the achievement of SDG 16 on just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, as well as advancing SDG 5 on gender equality. It also directly supports the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty; the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition; the International Tracing Instrument; the UN Security Council Resolution 1325; the UN Secretary General’s Disarmament Agenda; the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in all its Aspects; the EU Security Strategy; the EU strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition; and the EU Commission’s Action

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