Regional Project implementing the EU Council Decision 2019/2111, concludes with a significant track record of achievements

The Final Evaluation of the disarmament and arms control project implementing the European Union Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 confirmed that it significantly contributed toward boosting the regional approach to Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) control, including regional standardization, cooperation, transparency and coordination. The project generated a transformative impact on regional security, significantly enhancing the capacity of the authorities to combat illicit SALW and ammunition, thereby strengthening peace and stability in South-East Europe and beyond. By harmonizing strategic approaches, normative frameworks, and legislation across jurisdictions with EU acquis standards, this initiative has fostered unprecedented cooperation and coordination among security institutions in the region. 

The project was implemented as a follow up to EU Council Decision 2016/2356/CFSP and in parallel to Council Decisions 2018/1788/CFSP,  2022/2321/CFSP and the regional project on  enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons in the Western Balkans under the Instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA II) 2014-2020.

The project was implemented by SEESAC across eight jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo¹, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union. 

More specifically, through the support of the Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111, the following results were achieved: 

• Strengthened regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and information-sharing on arms control and enhanced evidence-based policy making on SALW control, contributing to the reduction of the threat of illicit proliferation of SALW 
• Strengthened capacities for design and implementation of evidence‐based SALW control policies and standardisation of approaches through regional cooperation at the strategic and operational levels was achieved through the facilitation of two key regional platforms dedicated to SALW control: at the strategic level, through regular meetings of SALW Commissions in Southeast and East Europe, and at the operational level, through the South-East Europe Firearms Experts Network (SEEFEN). These two platforms represent the backbone of the regional approach to SALW control in Southeast and Eastern Europe. Some of the key solutions developed in the region that are replicated globally have been initiated and/or developed within these platforms, such as the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap, which was replicated in the Caribbean and Central America;  as well as the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform that inspired the development of the Gunviolence.eu platform in the EU. 
• Gender perspective further integrated in SALW control policy‐making achieved through development of the knowledge products, including The Gender and SALW Control Resource Pack, which provides a concise overview of the wide range of knowledge products developed by SEESAC, and organizing training programmes tailored to the needs of the authorities. The  Advanced Regional Gender and SALW Training  organized for nineteen representatives of SALW Commissions and gender equality agencies from the region contributed to further strengthening the institutional capacities for gender-responsive SALW control policymaking.   

Increased capacities of law enforcement and border authorities in preventing and countering illicit arms possession and trafficking 

• Comprehensive support to Border Police Services in the region has been provided based on findings of comprehensive needs assessments of capacities of the Border police authorities in four Western Balkan jurisdictions: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, to suppress illicit firearms trafficking that were conducted under the EU Council Decision 2018/1788. This involved support for the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training, provision of equipment, and facilitation of regional knowledge sharing. Furthermore, 940 pieces of equipment were procured for the Border police of Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. 
• Comprehensive support has also been provided to Criminal Police Services in Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo to increase their detection and investigation capacities of firearms-related crimes, based on findings of a separate needs assessment conducted focusing specifically on criminal police services, through Council Decision 2018/1788.  This involved support for the development of Standard Operating Procedures, provision of equipment and training, and facilitation of regional knowledge sharing. A total of 20 Standard Operating Procedures on detection, risk analysis, investigations related to firearms/ammunition/explosives, and emergency situations for the Criminal Police authorities were developed by SEESAC. In addition to this, 905 pieces of equipment for the Criminal police forces in the Western Balkans were procured. 

Improved capacities for physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction and training 

• To increase the physical security and stockpile management capacities of police services across the region, SEESAC has completed the security upgrades of sixteen (16) evidence room locations across the region. To diminish risks of proliferation through the reduction of confiscated and surplus stocks of SALW and ammunition, SEESAC supported SALW disposal activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Through these actions, SEESAC supported authorities in destroying 10,644 pieces of SALW, 4,998 parts and components of SALW, and 50,000 cartridges. 

The Final Evaluation confirmed further that the  project is highly relevant to the specific needs and priorities of the authorities in South-East and Eastern Europe, maintained through close alignment between the Small Arms Light Weapons Control Commissions and their Strategies and Action Plans, with the EU Accession process. Further, the project relevance comes from its alignment and contribution to regional, EU and global-level priorities related to SALW control thus contributing towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Programme of Action, the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the UN Disarmament Agenda.   

Some of the key evaluation findings stressed that the project provided robust coherence achieved through SEESAC’s portfolio approach, and its holistic interventions targeting strategic, legislative and operational capacities.  The project's effectiveness is reflected in the fact that it contributed towards further strengthening capacities for the design and implementation of evidence-based SALW control policies and standardisation of approaches through regional cooperation at the strategic and operational levels. The Armed Violence Monitoring Platform established by SEESAC and supported through the project, which monitors firearms-related incidents, is significantly recognised by project stakeholders and has statistical, analytical, intelligence and operational use.   

Through targeted interventions, policy-relevant research and analysis and the development of knowledge products and resources, the project further contributed towards changing perspectives on gender and integrating it into SALW control activities throughout the region and beyond. project.  It underscores that disarmament and arms control are not only security measures but essential tools for upholding the fundamental human rights —by reducing violence, preventing abuse, and promoting peace and equality. 

The project established an effective model to further support the capacity building of both law enforcement and border authorities in preventing and countering illicit arms and explosives trafficking. The model consists of a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by the development of dedicated Standard Operating Procedures, the provision of equipment and tailored capacity development assistance in the form of training, focused on the implementation of the SOPs, complemented by regional knowledge exchange and learning.  

Furthermore, this regional initiative successfully strengthened regional security by enhancing capacities for physical security and stockpile management through infrastructure security upgrades, effective surplus reduction, and comprehensive training programmes. As a result, there has been a marked improvement in the security of weapons and ammunition stockpiles, a significant reduction in excess and confiscated SALW and ammunition, and the adoption of better physical security and stockpile management practices throughout the region.  

The project cultivated a strong partnership which underpins its regional approach, both at the level of the jurisdictions and within the European Union. It generated significant interest beyond the Western Balkans, including in Moldova and Ukraine, as well as other regions and countries. Recognised globally as a leader in gender-focused research and analysis, the project has facilitated the successful integration of gender considerations into policies, laws, and institutional practices, fostering a paradigm shift from peripheral acknowledgement to structural inclusion.  

A remarkable and far-reaching impact achieved by the project, that extends well beyond South East and Eastern Europe, thanks to its innovative partnership approach and a strong culture of sharing lessons learned and best practices, was underlined as an important evaluation finding. Notably, the successful replication of the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform in the EU exemplifies its impact, while the Western Balkans Roadmap has been replicated in the Caribbean and Central America, demonstrating its versatility and applicability across different contexts.  

The evaluation, conducted from April to June 2025, covered the project implementation period from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2024.  It comprised an analysis of all relevant project documentation – over 30 documents in total, and data collected virtually through a total of 43 key informant interviews. A total of 45 project partners and stakeholders were met, including 20 women (44%) and 25 men (56%). This included representatives from the SALW Commissions, representatives from SEEFEN, representatives from the customs, border and criminal police authorities, Ministries of Interior, UN entities, CSOs and research organisations.