SEESAC Supports Criminal Police and Firearms Focal Point in North Macedonia to Develop Standard Operating Procedures

As part of the comprehensive support to criminal and border police services in South East Europe, SEESAC organised a workshop on the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the Criminal Police and the Firearms Focal Point of North Macedonia in Ohrid on 1-4 November 2022. The EU-supported workshop aimed at enhancing the authorities’ capacities to counter trafficking, misuse, and illicit possession of firearms.

The need for such a workshop has been identified in the recommendations and conclusions presented in the Needs Assessment Report on Capacities of the Criminal Police of North Macedonia to counter trafficking and illicit possession of firearms, which is a result of a field visit and a detailed assessment of the Criminal Police that SEESAC conducted in North Macedonia in September 2021.

Additionally, as a further step of the support to the enhancement of the capacities of the criminal police of North Macedonia, funds are allocated for the procurement of the equipment assessed as needed and related training.

These activities are being organised with the support provided through the EU Council Decision 2019/2111 in support of arms control activities in South East Europe, as well as in the framework of the regional IPA 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 Union.