# Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 of 9 December 2019 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, Division 1: Introduction and objectives

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Significant progress has been made in recent years in South-East Europe (SEE) in respect of enhancing arms control and countering illicit arms trafficking, not least because of sustained Union support. The SEE region, however, remains an area of concern and has been identified as a priority area in the EU Strategy of 19 November 2018 against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition entitled ‘Securing arms, protecting citizens’ (the ‘EU SALW Strategy’). Illicit firearms have a clear impact on internal and external security, by fuelling organised crime and terrorist acts in the SEE region and the EU. Therefore, establishing strong and efficient control mechanisms relating to arms transfers, use, possession and stockpiling of arms constitutes a significant contribution to regional, European and global peace and security.
In order to address the remaining challenges relating to SALW control, further support the authorities in addressing these challenges and reinforce the commitment to combatting illicit trafficking and misuse of SALW and firearms, a Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024 (the ‘Roadmap’) was adopted at the Western Balkans Summit in London on 10 July 2018. The Roadmap has seven goals covering all functional areas of arms control and envisions a Western Balkans which is a safer region and an exporter of security, where comprehensive and sustainable mechanisms, fully harmonised with EU standards and other international standards, are in place to identify, prevent, prosecute and control the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The Union adopted in 2018 a Council Decision in support of the implementation of the Roadmap (Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788).
The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), as the executive arm of the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (the ‘Regional Implementation Plan’), supported the development of the Roadmap. Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 mandated SEESAC with the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the Roadmap. Coordination among institutions, international organisations and donors under the Roadmap framework is mainly ensured through formal regional Roadmap coordination meetings focusing on taking stock of progress and information exchange, and through provision of expert and technical support to local Roadmap coordination meetings. Monitoring of implementation of the Roadmap is ensured through the development of biannual monitoring and evaluation reports documenting progress, challenges and needs in that implementation based on the commonly‐agreed Key Performance Indicators. In addition, SEESAC holds the secretariat role of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi‐Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) set up to support the implementation of the Roadmap. SEESAC is working closely with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission (DG HOME, DG NEAR), Europol, the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), Interpol, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe (OSCE) and other relevant donors and international organisations that support disarmament and arms control activities in SEE.
The overall objective of this action is to further contribute to improved security in the SEE region and in the EU by combatting the threat posed by illicit SALW and their ammunition in and from SEE, Belarus and Ukraine. Its implementation will deepen and complement the Union assistance on SALW control provided through recent Council Decisions 2010/179/CFSP, 2013/730/CFSP, and (CFSP) 2016/2356 (which expires on 29 December 2019). It will also contribute to the achievement of the Regional Implementation Plan and Roadmap goals supported by Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788.
The action will: contribute to strengthened regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and information‐sharing on SALW control; further support the development of a legislative and regulatory framework on SALW, firearms and explosives, and its harmonisation with the Union framework and standardisation in SEE; continue support to evidence‐based policy‐making on SALW control addressing the needs of both men and women; build the capacity of border police and criminal police services of the Western Balkans to counter illicit trafficking and possession of firearms; improve capacity for physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction and training; and build on the current work on the establishment of the Firearms Focal Points in SEE.
The project will more broadly contribute to European and global peace and security and, at the same time, it will enhance regional stability by working within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and in partnership with other relevant international partners and initiatives.
The action will directly contribute to the implementation of the EU Security Strategy, the EU SALW Strategy, the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime (EMPACT Firearms), the Arms Trade Treaty, the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects, the International Tracing Instrument, the UN Firearms Protocol, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women and peace and security, and the UN Disarmament Agenda, and will specifically enhance regional cooperation in combating the threat posed by the spread of SALW and their ammunition. The project results will also directly contribute to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda on peaceful and just societies, in particular targets 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence and death rate everywhere) and 16.4 (significantly reduce illicit arms flows), and Goal 5 on gender equality. In addition, the project will support the implementation of the Commission’s Action Plan to target the illicit trafficking of firearms and explosives in the EU.
Specifically, the project will:
contribute to strengthened regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and information‐sharing on SALW control;
support the capacity building of border police and criminal police services of the Western Balkans for countering illicit trafficking and possession of firearms;
support further enhancement of capacities for PSSM.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2019/2111/annex/division/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2019-2111/annex/division-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.