In 2025, SEESAC further supported authorities across South East and East Europe in advancing SALW and civil use of explosives control legislation in line with EU Acquis and international obligations, combining expert assistance, targeted gap assessments, and dedicated workshops.
Held as part of an established annual process, and organized jointly with the DG Home and EEAS, the
Regional Workshop on the Harmonization of SALW Legislation with the EU Acquis was convened in November 2025 in
Brussels, providing a stable platform for the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to exchange updates on legislative alignment, discuss implementation challenges, and gain insights into recent EU regulatory developments on firearms, explosives and pyrotechnics, and emerging issues such as 3D-printed firearms.
Targeted
expert assistance was provided to support the harmonization of firearms, ammunition and explosives legislation with EU standards in several jurisdictions. Specifically, a
dedicated workshop on harmonization of firearms and ammunition-related legislation with EU standards was organized in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Technical and expert support was extended to
Montenegro for the development of the
Law on Weapons and Ammunition, including assistance during the
public debate on the draft Law in Podgorica.
Expert input was provided for
drafting the
Law on Explosives in
North Macedonia.
SEESAC's support contributed to tangible progress made by several jurisdictions in developing a strategic approach to SALW Control and in aligning the strategic frameworks with the
Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap 2030.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted a new
SALW Control Strategy 2025–2030 and
Action Plan 2025–2027 while the
Republic of Moldova adopted a
SALW Control Programme for 2026–2030 for the first time. In
Serbia, North Macedonia and
Albania, the
SALW Control strategies and
accompanying Action Plans were drafted and were pending adoption
by the end of the year. A comprehensive
evaluation of the SALW Control Strategy and Action Plan was completed in
Montenegro.
Throughout 2025, SEESAC, along with other partners, supported the Government of
Ukraine in drafting
Ukraine's first strategy and action plan to prevent and combat illicit SALW, helping to shape strategic priorities, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and align the framework with international best practices.
