Statement on Enhancing the Fight Against Illicit Trafficking of Firearms and Ammunition in the Western Balkans

The participants of the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum in Justice and Home Affairs in Brdo on 15-16 December 2016, acknowledged the pressing need to counter the illicit trafficking and accumulation of firearms, their parts and essential components and ammunition in the Western Balkans and the EU and reaffirmed their strong commitment to work together towards joint solutions, in order to address common security challenges affecting both the EU and the whole of the Western Balkans region.

In order to succeed, the European Union would systematically associate Western Balkans partners in operational actions related to the Western Balkans. The European Union would also extend the use of all available tools for tracing firearms, including iTRACE, iARMS and the Europol's databases while ensuring the full use of the Europol Focal Point on weapons and explosives.

On this Forum, Participants of the 2017 EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs were invited to make an assessment of achievements in the above mentioned areas.

ESO: Background information: The EU and Western Balkans [What Think Tanks are Thinking] http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-and-western-balkans-what-think-tanks-are-thinking/

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