Regional Workshop on Harmonization of Legislation in the Field of SALW and Explosives Control with the EU Acquis

In collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG Home), SEESAC organized a two-day regional workshop on 21–22 October in Brussels. This annual event brought together policymakers and technical experts from the EU and South East Europe to discuss key legislative frameworks related to firearms and explosives. The Workshop serves as a vital platform for the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine to share updates on their legislative progress, address challenges, and gain insights into recent changes in EU Acquis in these areas.

Throughout the first day, delegations from the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine shared updates on their progress in harmonizing national firearms legislation with the EU Acquis, highlighting both achievements and obstacles. Presentations delivered by DG Home gave the participants valuable insights into the Revised Regulation 258/2012 and practical measures for addressing regulatory challenges, including the implementation of Directive 2021/555 and compliance with the Regulation of Explosive Precursors.

The first day concluded with a session on the criminalization of firearms-related offences, where the upcoming legislative proposals aimed at strengthening enforcement mechanisms and enhancing the legal framework for addressing firearms-related crimes was presented by DG HOME.

The second day of the workshop focused on the alignment of regulations concerning the civil use of explosives and pyrotechnics with relevant parts of EU Acquis. Delegations from the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine shared their progress and challenges in this area. Participants emphasized the importance of learning from recent EU legislative changes to ensure effective implementation of regulatory frameworks, demonstrating the readiness of South East Europe jurisdictions to align their legislation effectively with EU standards.

Representative of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) delivered a detailed presentation on the traceability of explosives and pyrotechnics, stressing the significance of unique identification and tracking throughout their lifecycle. The session highlighted how these traceability measures are crucial for maintaining safety, preventing misuse, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants clarified technical details and discussed collaborative solutions to common challenges. The discussions fostered an exchange of knowledge and experiences, allowing participants to better understand EU directives, identify best practices, and address the difficulties of transposing and implementing key provisions.

The workshop was organized within the framework of the European Union Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111, amended by the Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/381 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in Southeast Europe