Under EU Council Decision 2019/2111/CFSP, the (UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS implemented continued EU support to disarmament and arms control efforts in South East Europe through SEESAC, building on the foundations established under previous Council Decisions. The action aimed to consolidate achievements, address remaining gaps and further strengthen the region’s capacity to prevent and combat the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW, firearms and their ammunition.
The project supported the implementation of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap through a comprehensive and coordinated approach, combining policy support, operational capacity-building and regional cooperation. It focused on harmonisation with the EU acquis, strengthened evidence-based policymaking, enhanced law-enforcement capacities, improved physical security and stockpile management, and advancement of gender equality in the region.
This project built on the assistance to SALW control efforts provided through the implementation of EU Council Decisions CFSP 2010/179, 2013/730, 2016/2356, and is in complementarity with EU Council Decision 2018/1788 and EU Council Decision 2022/2321, as well and IPA/2021/425-067 Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans project, all implemented by SEESAC.
Beneficiaries
The action supported authorities in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo1, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), the Republic of Moldova and with Ukraine.
The project was organized into three substantive components providing a holistic approach to SALW control in South East Europe.
Regional cooperation, information sharing, and evidence-based policymaking
Through this component, authorities in South East and East Europe were supported in strengthening regional cooperation and evidence-based policymaking on SALW control, contributing to more coordinated and harmonised approaches across the region.
The component focused on facilitating two core regional platforms: Regional Meetings of SALW Commissions, supporting strategic dialogue and policy coordination, and the South-East Europe Firearms Experts Network (SEEFEN), strengthening operational cooperation among law-enforcement authorities. Through the project, eight Regional Meetings of SALW Commissions and nine SEEFEN meetings were convened, enhancing information exchange, trust and cross-border cooperation, including with EU specialised agencies.
Targeted technical and advisory support was provided to SALW Commissions to strengthen policy development and implementation, including the review and drafting of SALW control strategies and action plans, several of which were subsequently adopted. The component also strengthened data collection, analysis and transparency, notably through continued support to the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP) and the production of policy-relevant knowledge products, such as Regional Arms Export Reports and thematic studies.
Throughout the component, gender perspectives were systematically integrated into SALW control policymaking through targeted guidance, training and regional knowledge exchange, contributing to more inclusive and effective arms control frameworks.
Capacity building of law-enforcement and border authorities
The preventive and investigative capacities of border and criminal police services across the Western Balkans were strengthened to detect and counter illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms, ammunition and explosives. Support focused on improving procedures, skills and equipment, enabling authorities to respond more effectively to evolving trafficking risks.
This line of work resulted in the development of new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for border and criminal police services, extensive specialised training for law enorcment, and large-scale procurement of detection, surveillance and investigative equipment, all grounded in comprehensive needs assessments. In total, more than 1,800 pieces of specialised equipment were delivered, and over 200 officers from border police, customs and criminal police services were trained.
These activities contributed to strengthened operational cooperation, improved firearms detection and investigation, and a more proactive law-enforcement response, reflected in a sustained increase in weapons seizures across the region in recent years.
Physical security and stockpile management (PSSM)
Physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) capacities across South East Europe and the Republic of Moldova advanced, reducing the risk of proliferation, diversion and misuse of firearms, ammunition and explosives. Support focused on infrastructure upgrades, surplus reduction and targeted training, aligned with international good practice.
Through the component, security upgrades were completed at 18 SALW evidence rooms and storage facilities across the region, significantly improving safe storage conditions for weapons and ammunition held by law-enforcement authorities. In parallel, authorities were supported in destroying confiscated and surplus stockpiles, including more than 10,600 firearms, parts and ammunition, directly reducing the availability of illicit weapons.
To ensure sustainability, the component also strengthened institutional capacities through regional and national PSSM training and workshops, enhancing record-keeping, inspection systems and safe storage practices, and supporting authorities in responding to heightened risks related to firearm misuse and illicit possession.