SALW Control Roadmap 2030
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Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans IPA 2019 (GIZ, Italian Ministry of Interior)

Duration

July 2020 - June 2023

Beneficiary/ies

Prosecution Offices, Ministries of Justice, Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Security, Law Enforcement Agencies in the Western Balkans region

Donor/s

EU, Germany, Italy

Funding Amount

EUR 17,915,000

Funding gaps (if any)

N/A

Objective/s

The project provides support in three key areas: operational support, focused on strengthening the operational capabilities of the Western Balkan law enforcement and security authorities and Prosecutors’ Offices to fight serious and organized crime and terrorism; strategic cooperation, centered around supporting the relevant authorities in the WB to effectively participate in and contribute to the EU and intra-regional cooperation structures and assessments; and interoperability of information systems, aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Western Balkan law enforcement and security authorities and Prosecutors’ Offices to exchange information.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Goal 2 - By 2024, ensure that arms control policies and practices in the Western Balkans are evidence based and intelligence led.
Goal 3 - By 2024, significantly reduce illicit flows of firearms, ammunition and explosives (FAE) into, within and beyond the Western Balkans. 

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 2:

  • Ensure exchange of operational and strategic information, data, intelligence as well as evidence with Europol, Frontex and Eurojust.

Goal 3:

  • Substantially strengthen control, monitoring and prevention of diversion of legal trade through improved capacities, procedures and transparency.
  • Strengthen existing bilateral, regional and international mechanisms and encouraging new forms of good practice to counter trafficking of firearms.

Key activities implemented up to date

  • Mapping and identification of ongoing firearms-related investigations eligible for EMPACT Firearms Low Value Grants: Support to investigations in BiH.
  • EMPACT Firearms Joint Action Days 2021: Support to a follow-up investigation BiH – MNE (ongoing investigation).
  • Support to Joint Action Days 2022 /set up of the coordination center (26 to 29 October 2022) and support to all the EUMS and non-EU, including Moldova and Ukraine in the participation in the operational phase.
  • Currently analysis of the follow up phase: new investigations.
  • Support the participation of North Macedonia and Serbia police in Operation CONVERSUS (under EMPACT OAP 2022 – Firearms) which took place in Bulgaria, 31 May - 3 June 2022.
  • Support to the Kosovo proposal as coaction leader in the JAD SEE 2023- Empact firearms Priority.
  • Support to Kosovo in the participation in next OAP Firearms 2023.
  • Debriefing for JAD SEE 2022.