Western Balkan Authorities Review Progress in Fighting Small Arms and Light Weapons Misuse and Proliferation

Six Local Coordination Meetings organised by the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Commissions from Pristina, Skopje, Podgorica, Tirana, Belgrade and Sarajevo were conducted during June 2022. The meetings were organised in the framework of the implementation of the Regional Roadmap for a Sustainable Solution to the Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of SALW and Their Ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024 (Roadmap).

The six gatherings served as platforms for reviewing the progress made and discussing future plans for implementation of the Roadmap by relevant local authorities in cooperation with and with the support of regional and international partners and donors. Traditionally, the meetings were also attended by the representatives of the European Union and the embassies of the French Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as international organisations and donors engaged in SALW control.

After reviewing the progress made and agreeing on the upcoming activities, the SALW Commissions will meet on the regional level during the Seventh Regional Roadmap Coordination Meeting to be organised in Skopje, North Macedonia, on 5-6 July 2022.

The meetings are organized with the funding support of the European Union through its EU Council Decision 2021/2161, amending Decision 2018/1788, in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans.