Firearms Focal Points from Southeast and East Europe Meet to Advance Coordination Efforts and Strengthen Analytical Capacities

From March 10-12, 2026, firearms experts from the Western Balkans, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine gathered in Skopje for the Annual Regional Workshop for Firearms Focal Points (FFPs). The workshop was followed by a two-day advanced analysis training aimed at strengthening the use of intelligence in combating illicit firearms trafficking and misuse.  
 
During the workshop, participants discussed gun crime trends within their jurisdictions, including emerging patterns, methods, and developments in firearms-related crime. They also reviewed challenges and opportunities in improving firearm data collection and analysis, as well as the current state of play of FFPs in line with relevant EU standards. 
 
Following the regional workshop, participants further strengthened their skills during a two-day advanced analysis training. Through a combination of theoretical sessions and scenario-based exercises, the training focused on turning data into actionable intelligence by identifying and interpreting patterns and trends, analysing criminal networks, and reconstructing timelines of events.  
 
They collaborated on realistic case scenarios, translating theory into practice by identifying criminal patterns, mapping relationships within illicit networks, and visualizing the sequence of events in firearms-related investigations. The training strengthened their skills in data interpretation, visualization, and analytical reasoning to improve the operational and strategic capabilities of FFPs. It also equipped participants with practical tools to better understand how criminal networks operate and how they can be disrupted, demonstrating how structured data analysis can help reveal hidden connections and support law enforcement in tackling complex firearms-related cases more effectively.  

These activities were made possible with the financial support of the European Union as part of the second phase of the regional project 'Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans', funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II), and the Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2587 in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans and in support of disarmament and arms control activities in South-East and East Europe.