Foreign and Internal Affairs Ministers of Western Balkans discuss strengthening fight against illicit trafficking in weapons for the region in Berlin

BERLIN, 31 January 2020 – The second high-level meeting of the Franco-German initiative for the comprehensive control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans, supported by the OSCE, was held today in Berlin. The meeting focused on progress evaluation and provided an occasion for Western Balkans representatives and their international partners to present the results reached thus far, as well as their proposals for further activities under the 2024 Roadmap.

Co-chaired by the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian gathered ministers of foreign affairs and interior of the Western Balkans, high-level decision makers of the EU Commission, as well as numerous international organizations and bilateral donors.  

To date, the OSCE has received assistance requests from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro and developed a dedicated portfolio of extra-budgetary practical assistance projects in the field of SALW and SCA. 

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger addressed the meeting reiterating the steady and regular support provided by the OSCE, which is complementary to the Franco-German co-ordination initiative. Greminger encouraged all the OSCE participating States to consider further funding to the OSCE led projects in support of Western Balkans SALW and SCA control activities.

“The OSCE remains open and ready to continue supporting the institutions of the region in the area of SALW and SCA, through dedicated projects and in close co-ordination with other international partners,” said Greminger.

The Organization has been actively engaged in support of the establishment of real-time police and customs data exchange in Southeast Europe. The aim is to tackle firearms and ammunition trafficking, raise awareness and foster community outreach initiatives on the dangers of firearms and ammunition misuse.

The OSCE also organised a side event presenting the OSCE Best Practice Guide on Deactivation of SALW. The Best Practice Guide serves as a practical tool for States to strengthen their capability to fight against illicit trafficking and misuse of SALW. It will further contribute to the 2024 Roadmap, ensuring that SALW control legislation is fully harmonized with the international regulatory framework by 2023 and that the collection and legalization of SALW is carried out using deactivation procedures that comply with international standards.

The 2024 Roadmap for comprehensive Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control was endorsed at the Western Balkans Summit in London in July 2018, in the framework of the “Berlin Process”.