EU and UNDP SEESAC Extend Partnership to Further Work on Disarmament and Arms Control Activities in South East Europe

The European Union has awarded over 4.000.000 EUR through a new Council Decision (2022/2321) of 25 November 2022 for a new phase of SEESAC activities, mainly extending support to coordination and monitoring of the Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans and to disarmament and arms control activities in South-East and East Europe.

The previous Council Decision of 2018/1788 enabled SEESAC to support the establishment of a coordination and monitoring platform of the Roadmap implementation to take stock of progress and coordinate the efforts at the regional level. This platform has enabled rigorous reporting biannually by each jurisdiction and organization of regular meetings at the local and regional level, allowing sharing of information and coordination of actions. It was established in cooperation with the Western Balkans authorities, Germany, France and the EU. The CD enabled also support to harmonisation of arms-control legislation with EU’s regulatory framework as well as capacity assessments and technical assistance to the law-enforcement and border-police authorities in the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The newly adopted Council Decision will provide support for the continuation of coordination and monitoring mechanism of Roadmap implementation, as well as the replication of good practices from the Western Balkans and reinforcing an intra-regional cooperation on arms control. The Roadmap’s impressive replication track record and capacity have been recognised, most notably through its replication in the Caribbean and its integration into the EU Action Plan on Firearms Trafficking. H.E. Ms. Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, reflecting on the EU’s adoption of the Roadmap and its KPIs, said: “Normally, we ask candidate Member States to adopt our body of EU laws, rights, and obligations. But you are shaping it before you join, and that is unique in EU history.”

Other areas to be supported by the new project include strengthening capacities of law enforcement services of Moldova and Ukraine for preventing and countering illicit trafficking and possession of firearms as well as strengthening capacities of law enforcement services, primarily ballistic laboratories and customs services of the Western Balkans for preventing and countering illicit trafficking and possession of firearms.

SEESAC has been providing technical and expert support to the authorities in Southeast Europe since 2002 with EU support, in a wide range of arms control areas including in: harmonising arms-control legislation with the EU regulatory framework and other related international obligations and standards; development of evidence‐based policies on SALW control leading to the development of the Western Balkans SALW control Roadmap. SEESAC further provided support in capacity building of law enforcement and border authorities in preventing and countering illicit arms and explosives trafficking but also worked on improving the capacities for physical security and stockpile management through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction and training. Funded by the EU, SEESAC has also facilitated regional cooperation and, thus further contributing to the reduction of the threat of illicit proliferation of SALW.

The implementation of the Western Balkans SALW Roadmap in particular, has had a positive impact on the region, resulting in the authorities’ increased contact and cooperation on SALW control at policy and operational levels, as well as closer cooperation with the EU.

The upcoming activities will build upon the results previously achieved in the scope of actions delivered within the Decision 2013/730/CFSP, Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356, Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 and in complementarity with Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 and the Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans project funded by the European Commission and implemented by SEESAC.

Through the Roadmap implementation, SEESAC directly contributes to the achievement of SDG 16 on just, peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as advancing SDG 5 on gender equality. It also directly supports the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty; the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition; the International Tracing Instrument; the UN Security Council Resolution 1325; the UN Secretary General’s Disarmament Agenda; the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in all its Aspects; the EU Security Strategy; the EU SALW Strategy; and the EU Commission’s Action Plan on firearms trafficking.

Photo: European Union