Fostering regional cooperation in SEE

Regional cooperation remains a cornerstone in addressing SALW control challenges, fostering partnerships, information sharing, and advancing joint activities to enhance security in the region.

This is mainly facilitated through two essential platforms – regional process of SALW Commissions and the Southeast Europe Firearms Expert Network (SEEFEN). Through regular meetings, these platforms bring together representatives from the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, underscoring the commitment to cooperative engagement in achieving a safer region.

Under SEESAC's facilitation, regional cooperation on SALW control continued to thrive across South East and East Europe during 2024.

Regional process of SALW Commissions  ‍

The regional process of SALW Commissions operates as the key regional platform at the policy level on the control of SALW in South East and East Europe. SALW Commissions are inter-ministerial bodies established in each jurisdiction to plan, coordinate and monitor all arms control activities in each jurisdiction. The 10^th anniversary of the regional process of the SALW Commissions, highlighting a decade of collaborative activities and achievements in arms control.

The 19 th and 20th regional SALW Commissions meetings organized during 2024 provided a platform for sharing expertise, best practices, and experiences, enhancing strategic planning, and fostering a preventive approach to SALW control. The 19th  Regional Meeting marked a significant milestone as it celebrated the 10th anniversary of the regional process of the SALW Commissions, highlighting a decade of collaborative activities and achievements in arms control.

Southeast Europe Firearms Experts Network‍

The SEEFEN operates as the key operational platform for combatting illicit arms trafficking in Southeast and East Europe. It is composed of representatives from criminal police, ballistic units, customs administrations, border police and prosecution offices to share good practices and concrete cases of cross-border cooperation in countering the trafficking of firearms.

In 2024, the 20^th  and 21^th meetings of the SEEFEN facilitated robust information sharing, addressed emerging challenges, and tackled evolving trends in combating illicit arms trafficking.