Regional Roadmap Coordination Meeting Discusses Achievements and Plans in SALW Control in the Western Balkans

The 14^th Regional Roadmap Coordination Meeting took place in Tirana on 9-10 December, gathering nearly 100 participants in-person and online, including representatives from the SALW Commissions and law enforcement authorities from the six Western Balkan jurisdictions, key donors – the European Union, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom – as well as regional and international organizations working on arms control.

Progress has been made in the first six months of 2025 on the implementation of the Roadmap, including on:

• Legal Framework Harmonization: All jurisdictions reported ongoing work in amending their legislation on weapons, ammunition, and explosives to align it with the EU Acquis. Three jurisdictions continue reporting alignment of their respective Criminal Codes with the UN Firearms Protocol, while work continues to make the necessary amendments in other jurisdictions.
• Inter-institutional mechanisms: SALW Commissions continue to coordinate and monitor activities related to SALW Control in line with SALW strategies and the Regional Roadmap.
• Strategic Frameworks: SALW Control strategies are under implementation in Podgorica, Pristina, and Sarajevo while new strategies/programmes were reported near finalisation in Belgrade, Skopje, and Tirana.
• Ballistic and Forensic Capacities: Most jurisdictions reported intensified efforts to accredit their ballistic laboratories. Four jurisdictions report accreditation in several methods. 
• Firearms Focal Points (FFPs): FFPs are established in five jurisdictions (Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Skopje, and Tirana) and are operational in four. Efforts to establish an FFP in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain ongoing. All jurisdictions reported enhanced investigative capacities and participation in preparatory meetings for the Joint Action Days and other regional cooperation initiatives.
• Awareness-Raising, Outreach, and Education: Most jurisdictions reported relevant activities, with an emphasis on celebratory shootings, the misuse of pyrotechnics, and the safe storage of firearms. All jurisdictions reported increasing efforts to address firearm-related gender-based and domestic violence. However, awareness-raising among licensed and legal entities and WAE producers remains limited, mainly confined to inspections and routine monitoring.
• Reduction of Firearms in Civilian Possession: Although to a different extent, three jurisdictions reported voluntary surrender of weapons, ammunition, and explosives: Belgrade (7,880 pieces of weapons), Podgorica (3,942 weapons, 130,088 rounds of ammunition, 439 hand grenades, and 97 kg of explosives), and Sarajevo (10 weapons in Brčko District, 2 in Sarajevo Canton, and 12 firearms, 8 hand grenades, and over 2,300 rounds of ammunition in Canton 10). 
• Three jurisdictions (Belgrade, Podgorica and Sarajevo) also reported weapons deactivation, while other jurisdictions reported ongoing efforts toward operationalizing the deactivation process.
• Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives Reduction Measures: Belgrade and Sarajevo reported the destruction of surplus ammunition and explosives, while plans for destruction were reported by other jurisdictions.

The meeting took stock of the progress achieved and the challenges encountered through presentation of preliminary findings from the Final Review of the first phase of the Roadmap’s implementation (2019–2024). Among the key findings, the review found that the Roadmap implementation has had a positive impact on regional trust and cooperation on SALW control. In this spirit, the roadmap meetings have also served as a platform to coordinate actions, review progress towards the implementation of the Roadmap Goals, and share updates on donor and partner support.

High-level representatives addressed the participants, praising the progress achieved and reaffirmed their support for the continued implementation of the Roadmap:

• Mr. Alban Laska, General Director of Public Order, Security, and Territorial Affairs Policies at the Ministry of Interior of Albania, highlighted the importance of SALW Control as a strategic investment to security, stability, and the strengthening of the rule of law within each jurisdiction and in the region.
• H.E. Olivier Caron, Special Envoy for Counterterrorism and the Fight against Organized Crime, France, described the meeting as an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved so far. He underlined the importance of progress in the field of criminal justice through sustained action and investment in human capital as a means to achieve sustainable results.
• Dr. Benedikt Zanker, Head of Division, Conventional Arms Control, German Federal Foreign Office, praised the important work of the Western Balkan jurisdictions in strengthening SALW and ammunition control and contributing to security and stability in the region and the European continent. Dr Zanker mentioned the continued commitment to the Roadmap implementation as an illustration that cooperation on SALW control is an effective consensus-based instrument.
• Mr. Davide Casale, Political Officer, European Union Delegation to Albania highlighted, among others, the progress achieved in harmonising legislation with the EU Acquis as very important in the EU Accession process.
• Mr. Pavle Janković, Head Of Political Department at the Regional Cooperation Council shared some key findings from the 2025 Securimeter results – a public opinion survey on security opinions by the citizens of the Western Balkans – showing that the WB citizens are concerned about safety, but they do not consider gun possession as the solution.
• Ms. Steliana Nedera, Manager of the UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting the SALW efforts in partnership with the Western Balkan jurisdictions, as well as regional and international partners. Ms. Nedera reflected on the role of the Roadmap in building trust, strengthen collaboration, and the contribution of the Multi Partner Trust Fund.

During the meeting, the key donors (the European Union, Germany, France, and the Netherlands) reaffirmed their support to the implementation of the Roadmap.

The Regional Roadmap Coordination Meetings are organized with the financial support of the European Union, through its Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321 in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Western Balkans Roadmap.