Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2321 of 25 November 2022 in support of the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans and in support of disarmament and arms control activities in South-East and East Europe

1 The Union shall support Western Balkans partners with the implementation of the ‘Regional Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW/firearms and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024’. The goals set out in the Roadmap are: (a) by 2023, to ensure that arms control legislation is in place, fully harmonised with the EU regulatory framework and other related international obligations and standardised across the region; (b) by 2024, to ensure that arms control policies and practices in the Western Balkans are evidence based and intelligence led; (c) by 2024, to significantly reduce illicit flows of firearms, ammunition and explosives (FAE) into, within and beyond the Western Balkans; (d) by 2024, to significantly reduce the supply, demand and misuse of firearms through increased awareness, education, outreach and advocacy; (e) by 2024, to substantially decrease the estimated number of firearms in illicit possession in the Western Balkans; (f) to systematically decrease the surplus, and destroy seized small arms and light weapons and ammunition; (g) to significantly decrease the risk of proliferation and diversion of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

2 In addition to the goals referred to in paragraph 1, this Union action shall provide support for countering illicit arms trafficking in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

3 In order to achieve the goals referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Union shall, by means of this Decision: (a) support the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW/firearms and their ammunition in the Western Balkans; (b) support authorities in the Western Balkans in fully harmonising their arms-control legislation with the Union regulatory framework and other related international obligations; and (c) provide support for countering illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans, in the Republic of Moldova and in Ukraine through capacity assessments and technical assistance to the law-enforcement and border-police authorities.

4 The project’s geographic scope is the Western Balkans, with direct project beneficiaries being Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo , Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia. In addition, for the goals referred to in paragraph 2, the project shall provide support to the Republic of Moldova and to Ukraine.

5 A detailed description of the project is set out in the Annex to this Decision.

1 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘HR’) shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

2 The technical implementation of the project referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out by SEESAC, where necessary in coordination with the Driver of the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT) Firearms.

3 SEESAC shall perform its tasks under the responsibility of the HR. For that purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the project financed by the Union referred to in Article 1 shall be EUR 4006955,58.

2 The expenditure financed by the reference amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the Union budget.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that purpose, it shall conclude the necessary agreement with UNDP, which shall act on behalf of SEESAC. The agreement shall stipulate that SEESAC has to ensure the visibility of the Union's contribution, appropriate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the agreement.

1 The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular quarterly reports prepared by SEESAC. Those reports shall form the basis of the evaluation carried out by the Council.

2 The Commission shall report on the financial aspects of the project referred to in Article 1.

1 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

2 This Decision shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire six months after the date of its entry into force if no agreement has been concluded within that six-month period.