SEESAC Attends the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs

In order to raise public awareness of Justice and Home Affairs issues as well as to strengthen the cooperation between the European Union and Western Balkans countries in this field, Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission organized the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum. 

Being held on 19-20 December 2013 in Budva, Montenegro, the Forum brought together ministers of justice and home affairs from the Western Balkan countries, the EU Presidency, the European Commission and representatives of various international organizations.

On this occasion, SEESAC’s Coordinator, Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski spoke before the Forum about SEESAC’s achievements in the field of combating the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons in the South East Europe. 

In addition, Dr. Zverzhanovski informed the participants that the Council of the European Union has decided to grant support to the SEESAC Disarmament and Arms Control Activities in South East Europe, within the framework of the EU Strategy to Combat the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition and through the COUNCIL DECISION 2013/730/CFSP.

Furthermore, participants were informed about the joint initiative of the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Republic of France, the European Commission Firearms Task Force, EUROPOL and SEESAC, that should lead to the establishment of the South East European Firearms Experts Network.

Read Dr. Zverzhanovski’s address.