From 9 to 10 December 2025 the Fourteenth Regional Coordination Meeting of the 2025–2030 Roadmap for a Sustainable Solution to the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), their Ammunition and Explosives in the Western Balkans was held in Tirana, Albania.
The meeting brought together nearly 100 participants in person and online, including representatives of SALW Commissions and law enforcement authorities from all six Western Balkan jurisdictions, key donors – the European Union, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – as well as regional and international organisations active in arms control and security cooperation.
RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation was represented at the event by György Rábai, Activity Manager in Cooperative Security Environment Pillar, reaffirming RACVIAC continued engagement in supporting regional cooperation and confidence-building in the field of SALW control.
The meeting reviewed both the progress made and the challenges faced, drawing on preliminary findings from the Final Review of the Roadmap’s first phase (2019–2024). The review highlighted that the Roadmap’s implementation has strengthened regional trust and cooperation in SALW control. In line with this, the roadmap meetings have provided a valuable forum to coordinate actions, assess progress toward achieving the Roadmap Goals, and exchange updates on donor and partner support.The representatives also took stock of the implementation of the second phase of the Roadmap (2025-2030) during the first six months of 2025. Tangible results have been achieved on legal harmonization, creation of the strategic framework, accreditation of ballistic laboratories, establishment of Firearms Focal Points, awareness raising as well as on reducing civilian possession of firearms. Surplus ammunition and explosives have either already been destroyed or are in the process of being destroyed.
The mid-year results clearly demonstrate that the Roadmap’s implementation is delivering concrete progress in strengthening security and stability across the region.
RACVIAC and the OSCE have maintained a strong and dynamic partnership for over two decades, focused on fostering regional security cooperation and dialogue in South-Eastern Europe. Since the inaugural meeting on Security Issues of Common Interest in 2002, this collaboration has been particularly visible through initiatives such as the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The partnership encompasses joint efforts in arms control, implementation of UNSCR 1540, and the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) agenda, reflecting a shared commitment to regional stability and the promotion of OSCE principles. RACVIAC has actively participated in FSC Security Dialogues and contributed to regional transparency and trust-building through training programs like the Dayton Article IV Orientation Course and the Vienna Document 2011 Course.
Over the years, RACVIAC has numerous military professionals from the region, facilitated practical inspections, and supported the implementation of key arms control agreements.
