Strategy and description of activities
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the ability of the Western Balkans to prevent and combat the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW), their ammunition and explosives, in line with the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap (2025–2030). The project follows a comprehensive, evidence-based and regionally coordinated approach, combining strategic capacity-building, operational support, and prevention-oriented interventions.
The project is implemented under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and builds on achievements under previous EU-funded actions supporting SALW control in the Western Balkans, in particular EU Council Decisions (CFSP) 2016/2356, 2018/1788, 2019/2111, 2022/2321 and 2024/3006, as well as earlier IPA support implemented by SEESAC. It complements and reinforces ongoing EU efforts to strengthen institutional capacities, operational cooperation and prevention-oriented responses to the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and explosives. The project reflects the EU’s continued long-term commitment to addressing illicit arms trafficking from and through the Western Balkans, enhancing regional and inter-regional cooperation, and supporting alignment with EU standards in line with the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap (2025–2030).
The intervention is structured around two specific objectives and six interlinked outputs.
Specific Objective 1
Strengthened strategic and operational capacity of Western Balkan authorities to conduct firearms investigations and exchange information within the region and with the EU on illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.
Output 1: Fully functional Firearms Focal Points (FFPs) operating in line with EU standards
Building on previous EU Council Decisions and earlier project phases, the project further strengthens Firearms Focal Points across the Western Balkans as institutionalised hubs for intelligence-led firearms investigations through:
- Provision of technical assistance to increase analytical capacities;
- Provision of specialised tools and support for digital data management and secure IT systems enabling real-time information exchange to enhance data collection, analysis, and operational output;
- Organisation of workshops, including Annual Regional Workshops, technical meetings, and peer exchanges to facilitate sharing of best practices;
- Delivery of specialized trainings in Open Source Intelligence
- Facilitating up to outreach workshops to improve operational links between FFPs, ballistic experts, and prosecutors
- A flexible mechanism to respond to emerging needs identified by the network, enabling timely information sharing and cooperation, including with EU Member States.
- Supporting participation in EMPACT firearms meetings and joint operations.
Output 2: Strengthened capacities of authorities in Western Balkans to conduct crime scene investigation in accordance with relevant EU good practices and guidelines.
The project enhances the ability of CSI units to conduct firearms- and explosives-related investigations in accordance with EU and international good practices through:
- Facilitation of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange;
- Capacity building through training;
- Provision of technical and advisory support and equipment.
Output 3: Enhanced capacities of customs authorities in the Western Balkans to counter illicit trafficking of firearms.
Based on assessed needs, complementing the ongoing procedural and capacity-building efforts through other relevant EU Council Decisions, the project enables customs services to effectively implement respond to emerging trafficking threats through:
Provision of targeted detection equipment for customs authorities to detect firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Specific Objective 2
Whole of a government and society response to the factors fuelling demand and misuse of firearms in the Western Balkans
Output 4: Enhanced response to factors fuelling demand of firearms in the Western Balkans through a whole of government and society approach.
The project strengthens monitoring and analysis of firearms demand and reinforces civil society engagement through:
Activities aimed at strengthening monitoring of firearms demand:
- Development of tailor-made knowledge products providing in-depth insights into the specific cultural and societal context, as well as risk and protective factors, for each Western Balkan jurisdiction, based on data from the regional perception survey conducted in Phase I;
- Technical support to SALW Commissions to enhance record-keeping and analysis on firearms distribution;
- Implementation of a follow-up regional perceptions survey on firearms demand, based on the methodology applied in Phase I, to provide updated insights and support longitudinal monitoring of trends.
Activities aimed at increasing capacities and strengthening regional cooperation of civil society organizations in the area of SALW control:
- Organisation of regional-level workshops for civil society organizations from the Western Balkans, focusing on key concepts, instruments and trends in small arms and light weapons control, as well as ongoing policy developments and institutional mechanisms;
- Organisation of jurisdiction-level events to support dialogue between institutions involved in SALW control and CSOs to enhancing the impact of the SALW Control Roadmap.
Output 5: Raised awareness and operational capacity among key stakeholders
Awareness-raising is a key component of preventing firearms misuse and proliferation, promoting behavioural change and improving public understanding of SALW-related risks. Building on Phase I results, relevant EU Council Decisions and findings of the Roadmap Mid-Term Review, evidence-based activities include:
- Organisation of the annual meetings of the Regional Awareness Raising Task Force
- Provision of technical and financial assistance to relevant authorities and civil society stakeholders to design, implement and monitor awareness campaigns;
- Design and implementation of awareness campaigns addressing public information on newly adopted firearms legislation, voluntary surrender and legalisation of firearms, Youth-focused messaging, particularly targeting young men; Advocacy against celebratory shooting and other high-risk behaviours;
- Delivery of targeted capacity-building activities for representatives of authorities responsible for SALW control, media, non-governmental organisations and community actors;
- Development of knowledge products to complement trainings, including on campaign planning, media reporting on SALW, SALW- and youth-focused awareness-raising.
- Facilitation of SALW destruction
- Provision of advisory and technical support on demand
Output 6: Strengthened gender mainstreaming in SALW control
Building on tools and guidelines developed in earlier phases, the project advances the integration of gender perspectives into SALW control policies and practices through:
- Implementation of jurisdiction-level trainings and capacity-building for police officers on the prevention of firearms misuse in gender-based and domestic violence, including the application of the Guidelines for Gender Responsive Firearms License Approval and the Guidelines for Assessing Risks of Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence;
- Support to capacity development of trainers through advanced training, networking support, recruitment of new trainers, and exchange of best practices;
- Provision of on-demand support to jurisdictions to enhance prevention of firearms misuse in gender-based and domestic violence, including localisation and revision of guidelines, refinement of legal and policy frameworks, and development of new tools, with the inclusion of women’s organisations;
- Development of regional guidelines for armed violence prevention focusing on groups most at risk of firearms misuse, particularly young men, building on research and knowledge products developed in Phase I;
- Delivery of capacity development activities for SALW Commissions and other relevant stakeholders to mainstream gender in policymaking and operations and increase women’s participation in SALW control;
- Organisation of advanced regional gender and SALW trainings for representatives of SALW Commissions and gender equality agencies;
- Organisation of regional trainings for HR departments of Ministries of Interior and police directorates to support the implementation of recommendations on women’s participation in SALW control;
- Development of gender-related knowledge products.
Beneficiaries
The primary beneficiaries of the project are the six jurisdictions of the Western Balkans, specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo1. At the institutional level, the action directly supports Western Balkan authorities, including law enforcement agencies, Firearms Focal Points (FFPs), Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) units, and customs administrations, through the provision of specialised equipment, technical advice, and advanced training. Furthermore, the project engages prosecutors, ballistic laboratory experts, and media professionals to strengthen the "intelligence-to-evidence" chain and improve public discourse regarding firearms. Beyond state institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), particularly women’s organisations and youth groups, benefit from capacity development aimed at addressing the root causes of firearms demand and misuse. Ultimately, the project is designed to enhance the security and well-being of the general population across the region by reducing the threat posed by the illegal possession and trafficking of small arms and light weapons.