Regional Workshop on harmonization of legislation in the field of SALW Control with EU Acquis

The Regional Workshop on harmonization of legislation in the field of SALW Control with EU Acquis gathered on 17 and 18 of May 2022 representatives of six Western Balkan jurisdictions and Moldova in Budva, Montenegro.

The meeting was an opportunity to follow up on the latest updates on the harmonization of the SALW legislative framework of all jurisdictions with the EU acquis, as well as to share information on planned activities and challenges they are facing in this regard, especially in the categorization of firearms and the production standards for alarm and signal weapons.

Updates were followed up by the presentation on Firearms Directive implementation in EU and best practices in the harmonization process.

Ms. Febe Liagre, Policy Assistant from the European Commission presented to participants the latest updates on the further development and planned changes of the EU legislative framework in the area of SALW control. The first-hand experience of the harmonization of SALW control legislation with EU Acquis and challenges with its implementation were presented by Ms. Nataša Prišlin, Head of the Arms Control Department, Ministry of Interior of Croatia.

In the further course of the meeting, participants discussed the implementing directive 2019/69, focusing specifically on the technical specifications of alarm and signal weapons and high-capacity magazines that are prohibited in the EU Firearms Directive.

The important topic of explosive precursors regulation was also brought up during the meeting. During the discussion on this specific matter, the methodology of a desk review of the relevant legal framework used in North Macedonia and lessons learned in this process was presented to all present jurisdictions.

Going deeper into the discussion on explosive precursors regulation, participants also discussed the process of licensing or prohibition of explosive precursors, an institutional response regarding monitoring of precursors, requirements for stockpiling explosives precursors, and tracing of explosives precursors

This regional gathering was convened under the implementation of the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 in support of the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans.