This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 52020DC0608
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
COM/2020/608 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 24.7.2020
COM(2020) 608 final
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
Contents
1.Introduction
2.The issue
3.EU initiatives
4.A new EU action plan 2020-2025
4.1.Establishing indicators and reporting
4.2.Overarching priorities
4.2.1.Priority 1: Safeguarding the licit market and limiting diversion
4.2.2.Priority 2: Building a better intelligence picture
4.2.3.Priority 3: Increasing pressure on criminal markets
4.2.4.Priority 4: Stepping up international cooperation
5.Specific actions for south-east Europe and its cooperation with the EU
5.1.Tailoring activities to the region
5.2.A modernised governance to ensure efficient delivery
5.2.1.Meeting funding needs to address challenges
5.2.2.A holistic steering to implement the south-east Europe activities
6.Conclusions
1.Introduction
Early July 2020, Europol, France and the Netherlands announced the results of a large cross-border joint investigation against a major criminal network which led to the seizure of dozens of automatic firearms in the Netherlands. During riots in Dijon (France) at the end of June, youngsters proudly filmed themselves with assault weapons and pistols. At the same time, a police operation in Spain dismantled a large network of firearms trafficking, with the seizure of 730 weapons and 21 arrests throughout the country. These are all examples of the reality of the threat of illicit firearms. Extreme right activists are increasingly under the limelight for the accumulation of weapons. This shows how firearms can increase the danger posed by serious and organised crime, including terrorism. It is estimated that 35 million illicit firearms were owned by civilians in the EU in 2017 (56% of the estimated total of firearms). 1 According to those estimates, illicit firearms would outnumber legally-held firearms in twelve EU Member States. 2
As an area without internal borders, the EU has played an active part against this threat. It notably reinforced firearms legislation to avoid that weapons fall into the wrong hands. 3 Criminal organisations active in the EU mostly obtain firearms through illicit conversion of non-lethal weapons and through trafficking: either via illicit transfers between EU Member States or via smuggling from outside of the European Union (mostly from south-east Europe). 4 Over the last years, the EU supported the development of strong law enforcement coordination in this field.
Many challenges remain, with a new set of actions being necessary to keep pace with those challenges, as was notably identified by the Commission’s Evaluation of the 2015-2019 action plan on firearms trafficking between the EU and the south-east Europe region”. 5 The European Union as well as its partners, in particular in south-east Europe, must live up to those challenges by making firearms trafficking a cross-thematic security priority. Due to the comprehensive and multidisciplinary nature of the threat, only a unified action plan can provide a coherent framework for cooperation to intensify the international cooperation according to specific needs, requirements and performance indicators.
The Commission therefore proposes a single action plan for both the EU and south-east Europe partners (Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine) around four specific priorities to address remaining legal loopholes and inconsistencies in firearms controls that hinder police cooperation. This action plan will define activities for a shared understanding and a common way forward on how to address the threat of illicit firearms.
2.The issue
Europol noted in 2019 that the conclusions of its 2017 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) remain valid and that the proliferation and availability of illicit firearms in EU Member States increase the risk of their use in terrorist attacks and organised crime. It however stated that “shifts in modi operandi, routes and the geographical areas affected by some criminal activities may indicate some longer term developments and changes affecting crime”. Illicit trafficking, distribution and use of firearms “remain a high threat”. In particular, the “sale of deactivated, reactivated and converted firearms has increased.” 6 Illicit firearms are more easily accessible online (notably on the dark web) and their trade is increasingly carried out by individual criminals in addition to organised crime groups. Illicit firearms are mostly pistols and rifles (34% and 27% of seizures, respectively).
A recent study 7 identified 23 mass-shooting incidents that occurred in the (semi-) public space in Europe in the period 2009-2018, which killed 341 people. In 2015, Europol had recorded 57 terrorist incidents in which a firearm was used. 8 In 2017, firearms were used in 41% of all terrorist attacks, a slight increase compared to 2016 (38%). 9 The recent case-work of Eurojust confirms that illicit firearms were used in terrorist attacks on several occasions and that trafficking networks interacted with individual terrorists or terrorist organisations. The coordination of cross-border investigations by Eurojust led to the seizure of illicit firearms in several cases.
Such trends are generally confirmed by the latest data collected by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC): 10 in the EU in 2016-2017, shotguns accounted on average for 30% of seizures, followed by pistols (22%), rifles (15%) and revolvers (8%), with submachine guns and machine guns accounting for most of the remainder (2%). Within Europe as a whole, seizures appear to be more evenly distributed between pistols (35%), rifles (27%) and shotguns (22%). Europe is considered as one of the major starting points for illicit flows, but those flows mostly remain inside the continent. Besides, the types of arms seized include a significant proportion of weapons other than firearms (such as blank-firing and gas weapons), which underlines the threat of conversion of such weapons into illicit firearms.
11 Europol and law enforcement authorities stress that outlaw motorcycle gangs traffic firearms throughout the EU. Many of the organised crime groups active in firearms trafficking are poly-criminal and also engage in drug trafficking, organised property crime, migrant smuggling, money laundering and violent crime. In some Member States (such as Sweden and Denmark) there has been a notable increase in the levels of homicide and other violent crimes, accompanied by a reported increase in the use of potentially lethal weapons such as firearms, knives and explosives. In Sweden, 40 gun-related deaths occurred in 2017, 33.3% more than in the previous year.
12 13 14 Several threat assessment reports from Europol confirmed that Western Balkans remain among the main supplying regions of trafficking to the EU, and mentioned the need to increase the flow of information and intelligence between the EU and the Western Balkans. The ongoing threat in this region was confirmed by several studies, the most recent of which stresses that weapons used in terrorist attacks in the EU “were acquired through local illicit firearm markets and were found to originate from the Balkans”. This same study also identified the Balkans “as the main supplier of illicit firearms in Europe” and spoke of “the link between the Balkans and small arms used in EU member states in various types of criminal activity.” This is confirmed by the latest UNODC Global Firearms Study, according to which the Western Balkans remain a source of illicit firearms, notably assault rifles, due to significant price differences with Western Europe.
Intra-EU and international law enforcement co-operation offers great potential for improvement. National legal frameworks and definitions remain divergent, which impedes joint approaches, and can still be exploited by criminals. Member States are notably still far from having fully transposed and implemented the Firearms Directive. 15 On 24 July 2019, the Commission sent 20 reasoned opinions to the Member States that had not notified the full transposition of the Directive. 16 In addition, in December 2017, the Commission published an evaluation of the application of Regulation (EU) No 258/2012 on import, export and transit of civilian firearms, which identified loopholes due to a lack of homogeneous implementation. 17 This was followed in April 2018 by a Recommendation calling for strengthening EU rules to improve traceability and the security of export and import control procedures of firearms and the cooperation between authorities in the fight against firearms trafficking. 18
Despite efforts, notably the UNODC Global Firearms Study funded by the Commission, the intelligence picture remains patchy due to the absence of comprehensive and comparable data on firearms seizures across the continent. Exchange of information for intelligence and profiling purposes is limited by constraints placed by national law to share information (also non-personal data such as ballistics data) outside of a specific investigation. The problem is intensified by a lack of communication and coordination between different administrations, within countries and at transnational level. 20 EU Member States 19 and 4 Western Balkan partners 20 have in place a form of Firearms Focal Point. However, they are often not provided with the appropriate competences (for administrative control, law enforcement data collection, access to databases, tracing, international cooperation, and forensics) and staffing recommended by the best practice guidance developed by national firearms experts. 21
Moreover, trafficking of firearms is unevenly criminalised: not all unauthorised cross-border transfer of weapons qualify as trafficking, in contradiction with the United Nations’ Firearms Protocol. 22 This sometimes leads to lack of enforcement and sanctions. It also limits the confiscation of the proceeds of crime generated by firearms trafficking. Different national approaches prevent joint cross-border operations such as controlled deliveries.
In south-east Europe particularly, important work is still needed to bring national administrations up to the highest standards and ensure efficient control of firearms. The needs range notably from the establishment of national databases, ballistic capabilities to secure stockpile conditions and campaigns of voluntary surrenders. In terms of governance, the Commission’s evaluation report of the 2015-2019 Action plan noted that “Cooperation between the EU and the south-east Europe region remains difficult due to the existence of a multitude of stakeholders, which are not always coordinated,” an “unnecessary duplication of meetings” and a “lack of integrated and comprehensive budgetary approach at EU level.”
New trends are also emerging in the EU and amongst European neighbours, which often face similar challenges. These trends include changes in the conversion techniques for turning blank-firing or gas and alarm weapons into firearms and new concealment methods. Criminals also try to circumvent legislation by changing the barrel of easily available Flobert-calibre weapons (weapons of a small low-power calibre designed for “living-room” shootings). Technological improvements in 3D printing could in the future facilitate the illicit manufacturing of firearms. New distribution patterns are emerging, including trafficking of firearms parts through fast parcel and postal service, which have notably resulted in a shift from exports of traditional conflict weapons from the Western Balkans to imports of new weapons from Western Europe into the Balkans or of unmarked essential components from the United States. Armed conflicts in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood also create potential sources of illicit weapons into the EU.
The protracted armed conflicts with wide regional repercussions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to be fuelled by diversion and trafficking of firearms. Trafficking in firearms in this region is facilitated by different reasons, including poorly secured stockpiles and diversion of legal firearms, also originating from EU Member States’ licit production and authorised export. In Africa, firearms trafficking contributes to the instability of the region.
3.EU initiatives 23
Trafficking of firearms has long been identified by the EU as a major threat for citizens. This had led the Commission to define a specific policy to address this issue in the 2013 Communication on Firearms 24 and the 2015 European Agenda on Security. 25 In 2014, the first operational action plan on crime was produced by Member States as part of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT Firearms) in the context of the EU Policy Cycle 2014-2018, under the section on “Firearms”. 26
Since 2002, the EU has been providing assistance to the Western Balkans through a consecutive number of CFSP Council Decisions providing financing for small arms control projects worth almost EUR 30 million overall. The activities covered have included a multitude of areas, contributing to enhanced small arms control and combating and preventing arms trafficking. The latest such CFSP Council Decision, representing an unprecedented amount of EUR 11.8 million, was proposed by the High Representative and adopted by the Council in December 2019 and is valid for 4 years. The major implementing partner for the EU of the assistance provided to the region has been the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC 27 ). It applied a comprehensive regional approach to control of firearms in the region, including improved marking, tracking and record keeping; improved law enforcement; enhanced physical security and stockpile management; awareness raising and gender policy; and transparency of arms exports. This sustained, longstanding support to the Western Balkans has contributed to the building of trust amongst the region’s national authorities and has helped to enhance regional co-operation.
In December 2014, the EU and its Western Balkan partners endorsed an action plan on the illicit trafficking of firearms between the EU and the south-east Europe region for 2015-2019. 28 Following the Paris terror attacks, the Commission proposed in November 2015 to further strengthen the EU legal framework to close several loopholes, which led to a revision of the Firearms Directive. At the same time, the Commission published a new “EU action plan against illicit trafficking in and use of firearms and explosives”. 29
In 2018, the Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on “Elements towards an EU Strategy against illicit Firearms, Small Arms & Light Weapons and their Ammunition" 30 was endorsed by the Council, turning it into a fully-fledge EU Strategy. 31
The willingness of the Western Balkans authorities to jointly address the remaining gaps through a regional approach was recently articulated through the development of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition (hereafter the Regional Roadmap 32 ) adopted at the London Summit of the Berlin Process on 10 July 2018. This initiative later received EU financial support through a Council Decision of 19 November 2018. 33
The development of actions between the EU and non-EU countries in the field of the law enforcement aspects of the fight against trafficking of firearms has been developed mainly through EMPACT Firearms. It focused on the development of national capabilities against trafficking of firearms, on the development of operational exchange of information with Member States and Europol and of joint control operations.
The Commission, through the Internal Security Fund - Police, financially supported and promoted several studies such as the EFFECT, 34 FIRE 35 and SAFTE 36 research programmes, to improve knowledge on the illicit trafficking of firearms covering inter alia online trafficking and the diversion of legal trade. The Commission financed the UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme to collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative information and data on trafficking in firearms. 37
The Commission, through the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), also funded the work of the UNODC Global Firearms Programme towards the implementation of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Firearms Protocol in partner countries. INTERPOL has equally received financial support for the creation and development of its Illicit Arms Records and Tracing Management System (iARMS).
The Commission and the Council have also been supporting voluntary collection of illicit firearms, destruction of surplus weapons and ammunition, physical security and stockpile management, capacity development for marking, record keeping and tracing, capacity development for arms export control, and support for embargo monitoring and tracing of diverted weapons.
4.A new EU action plan 2020-2025
4.1.Establishing indicators and reporting
Previous action plans did not include proper indicators, which complicated the assessment of their implementation. In 2018, Western Balkan partners and several EU Member States developed useful indicators in the context of the regional Roadmap. Developed by the authorities in the Western Balkans with the support of SEESAC, they were commended by all stakeholders involved.
The Commission proposes that similar indicators be used to evaluate and monitor the efficiency of the new action plan to fight against firearms trafficking, with systematic collection of crime and criminal justice data across the law enforcement agencies (police, customs, prosecutors and court services). Among others, those indicators include the conformity with EU legislation, the number of seizures, the number of prosecutions and convictions for firearms trafficking, the number of export licences and post-shipment checks, the number of established Firearms Focal Points, the number of weapons surrendered, legalised, deactivated or destroyed (see Annex 4 for more details). Where relevant, the corresponding indicators are mentioned below after each action.
Every year the European Commission will ask EU Member States and south-east Europe partners in line with Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 to provide data related to the performance indicators, accompanied when relevant with concrete evidence (for instance destructions), in order to have an updated evaluation of yearly activities. The Commission will support competent authorities by developing methodology and clear guidance for this reporting, in close cooperation with EMPACT Firearms.
4.2.Overarching priorities
4.2.1.Priority 1: Safeguarding the licit market and limiting diversion
The European Commission will step up its commitment to ensure that the Firearms Directive and its corresponding delegated and implementing acts are correctly transposed and effectively enforced by all Member States. It will keep on using all the powers given by the Treaty to that effect. The implementation of the Firearms Directive by Member States is a priority. The Commission encourages south-east Europe partners to fully approximate their legal control legislation with EU and international standards. [Action 1.1 – KPI 1] In order to assist Member States and south-east Europe partners, the Commission will develop with Europol an EU-level firearms reference table enabling an easy classification of firearms according to EU categories. [Action 1.2]
As required by the Firearms Directive, the Commission will publish early 2021 a report on its application. In doing so, it will examine ways on how to best address emerging and future threats, notably concerning “Flobert” firearms and 3D printing of firearms. [Action 1.3]
The Commission will conduct an impact assessment on the EU legislation on controls for imports and exports of civilian firearms, [Action 1.4 – KPI 6] in particular to examine ways to improve traceability (harmonised import markings), to exchange of information between national authorities to avoid circumvention of export prohibitions, and to increase the security of export and import control procedures of firearms (more clarity in simplified procedures). It will examine how to ensure consistency between Regulation No 258/2012 and the Firearms Directive, for instance, to better address the imports of easily convertible alarm and signal weapons, or to apply export controls to all weapons regulated by the Directive. To ensure robust enforcement of its rules, the Commission also intends to make applicable the whistle-blower-protection regime put in place with Directive (EU) No 2019/1937 38 to persons who report breaches of Regulation No 258/2012 as amended.
Finally, to support the implementation of the relevant UN international conventions, 39 the Commission will strengthen the capacity of partner countries to implement effective firearms controls and step up its engagement to converge towards the highest standards to ensure efficient tracing and to avoid that firearms drift into illicit markets. [Action 1.5 – KPI 1]
4.2.2.Priority 2: Building a better intelligence picture
The Commission reiterates its recommendation to Member States to systematically feed the Schengen Information System with information on lost and stolen firearms, as well as sold weapons which are prone to easy conversion into firearms, and consult it when they seize a weapon. [Action 2.1 – KPI 9.8] The Commission will provide its support to initiatives enabling simultaneous searches and/or entries by national authorities in both the Schengen Information System and INTERPOL’s iARMS, and urges Member States to respond to INTERPOL’s call for volunteers to test the new features. [Action 2.2 – KPI 9.6] It is crucial that all operational and strategic intelligence and risk-related information, relevant for customs, is automatically passed on to the common Customs Risk Management System (CRMS). [Action 2.3 – KPI 9.9] Member States and south-east Europe partners should systematically record stolen and lost firearms in iARMS. [Action 2.4 - KPI 9.6]
Building on the project implemented by the UNODC, the Commission will take action to establish a systematic and harmonised collection of data on seizures of firearms, [Action 2.5 – KPI 4] and publish annual statistics as done to analyse drug seizures. 40 This would provide useful information to law enforcement authorities, notably to assist them in identifying new trafficking trends and establishing refined risk profiles. To do so, and based on the preparatory work carried out by various players such as Europol, Frontex, the UNODC, EMPACT Firearms and south-east Europe partners, the Commission will propose a common seizure reporting form. The Commission, in cooperation with Europol, will explore the feasibility of rolling out at EU-level a tool to track in real-time firearms-related incidents and develop a permanently up-to-date picture. [Action 2.6 – KPI 10] In doing so, it will draw inspiration from the EU-funded 2017 FIRE project 41 and the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform covering south-east Europe. 42
Trafficking of firearms can also take place on dark web marketplaces. The Commission will implement the preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament on 24/7 monitoring of the darknet. [Action 2.7] Besides, in the framework of the EU Policy Cycle, Europol will continue to assist Member States in gathering information and building a sound intelligence picture on the use of darknet for illicit trade of firearms.
4.2.3.Priority 3: Increasing pressure on criminal markets
The Commission urges Member States and south-east Europe partners to complete the establishment of fully staffed and trained Firearms Focal Points in each jurisdiction, as recommended by the Best practice guidance of national experts. 43 [Action 3.1 – KPI 7.1] Such focal points should also be systematically associated to the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and of the International Tracing Instrument. In order to facilitate EU-level and international cooperation, the Commission will publish a scoreboard of those focal points, clearly setting out their contact details and competences. [Action 3.2 – KPI 7.1]
The Commission calls on all Member States which have not done so 44 to ratify the United Nations Firearms Protocol, which facilitates and strengthens cooperation in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms. [Action 3.3 – KPI 1.5] The Commission will also start a stakeholders’ consultation to examine if gaps exist in the legislative framework and assess the need for establishing common criminal law standards on trafficking of firearms and illicit manufacturing, in line with Article 83 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. [Action 3.4 – KPIs 1.5 & 8] In this context, the Commission will examine the feasibility of enabling rules of police cooperation to ensure more systematic tracing of seized weapons, to exchange intelligence outside of specific investigations, share ballistic data more easily and systematically, or carry out controlled deliveries.
The Commission invites Member States and south-east Europe partners to improve cooperation among law enforcement authorities (customs, police and border guards), but also with prosecutors and forensics specialists, to tackle the principal sources and routes of illicit firearms, drawing inspiration from the South East Europe Firearms Experts Network [Action 3.5 – KPI 3] They should dramatically develop the expertise of their law enforcement authorities about the firearms threat, the legal framework and its international cooperation tool, notably by making better use of the training opportunities offered by CEPOL, and developing cascading training to improve its added value. [Action 3.6 – KPI 7.2]
The Commission invites Europol, Member States and south-east Europe partners to keep a focus on firearms cases in the framework of cyber patrolling operations and actions against dark web marketplaces by closely coordinating the Cyber Patrol Joint Action Day and dark web investigations with Europol’s dark web team. [Action 3.7 – KPI 9.4]
The Commission will also improve cooperation between law enforcement and parcel and postal operators, to ensure stricter oversight of shipments containing firearms or their components. It will notably examine the extent to which artificial intelligence can be used to better identify notably through x-ray scanning weapons’ parts hidden in the mass of small consignments. [Action 3.8] It will also propose an EU-level memorandum of understanding between parcel operators and police and customs authorities, to improve the communication of data related to firearms and firearms parts and the way they can support one another, based on best practices already implemented at national level. [Action 3.9] This will create a level-playing field, avoiding the establishment of some operators where controls are laxer.
4.2.4.Priority 4: Stepping up international cooperation
Cooperation between the EU and non-EU partners need to be stepped up in line with the priorities set out in the 2018 EU Strategy against illicit Firearms, Small Arms & Light Weapons and their Ammunition. 45
Cooperation with countries in North Africa and the Middle East need to be particularly stepped up.
Cooperation with Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan should be deepened in the tracing of weapons and improvement of weapons control. The Commission will work closely with the High Representative and calls on Member States to commit more personnel for technical assistance to the countries in North Africa and the Middle East. [Action 4.1] Considered a country of origin of many easily convertible, and therefore illicit, gas and alarm weapons, Turkey should also be a prime focus of cooperation. [Action 4.2]. In Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, better physical security and stockpile management, record-keeping and weapons control will be encouraged. [Action 4.3] Exchanges of good practices with south-east Europe are already underway.
Considering the high risk of firearms trafficking in south-east Europe (understood as covering non-EU partners of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova), the specificities linked to its geopolitical context, the high number and type of national and international players involved, and the current instability in Eastern Europe, the Evaluation Report of the 2015-2019 action plan demonstrated the need for a new action plan. The latter was also recommended by delegates of all partners attending the third meeting of the Joint Committee between European Union Firearms Experts and South East Europe Experts which was held in Brussels on 24 September 2018. The evaluation Report also underlined the need to involve Ukraine and Moldova in a broader coherent framework cooperation against common threats posed by the illicit trafficking of firearms in the whole region. This also answers the Council’s call to involve Ukraine in the relevant Operational Action Plans of the EU Policy Cycle for organised and serious international crime. 46 With regard to Ukraine, the Action Plan shall take into account the EU’s support 47 for Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives, in cooperation with the OSCE and SEESAC. 48 The Commission supports with EU funding integrated border management and anti-trafficking activities including through the European Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine. The work of Conflict Armament Research in Ukraine supported by Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2283 is ongoing.
Therefore, as part of this Action Plan, the Commission proposes specific detailed actions and governance for south-east Europe (see section 5 below) to be taken forward in close cooperation with the High Representative and in consultation with partners.
5.Specific actions for south-east Europe and its cooperation with the EU
5.1.Tailoring activities to the region
As mentioned in section 2, the evaluation of the 2015-2019 EU-south-east Europe action plan 49 demonstrated that both sides face common challenges and that deeper regional cooperation is essential to better counteract the transnational dimension of illicit trafficking in firearms across the region.
The work carried out in 2018 to develop the regional Roadmap, supported by France and Germany, resulted from a consensual and participatory approach of all Western Balkans partners. It identified many relevant goals and targets, which would be relevant in an action plan. Based on this, the Commission proposes in Annex 3 a set of specific activities, which integrate the Roadmap, in line with the Council Decision funding its implementation. 50
All jurisdictions of the region face similar challenges. However, not all partners will reach their objectives at the same pace and different stages of progress will call for different ambitions. At the right time, those actions should also include in an appropriate manner Ukraine and Moldova. The Commission, in cooperation with the High Representative, will engage with these two countries to discuss ways and means to integrate them in the overall framework.
This south-east Europe-specific actions have been defined by the Western Balkans authorities through the development and adoption of the regional Roadmap, which is annexed to Council Decision (CFSP) 1788/2018. Leading to the overarching goal of the Action Plan - combatting illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition, it keeps focus on three main strands, providing more clarity and structure than the 2015-2019 Action Plan, notably to address remaining legal loopholes and inconsistencies in firearms control that hamper police and judicial cooperation:
·Harmonising the legal environment, modernising the administrative structure and facilitating capacity building;
·Increasing stockpile security and stockpile reduction;
·Making law enforcement activities more efficient by facilitating operational cooperation, exchange of information, and cooperation on ballistic analysis.
5.2.A modernised governance to ensure efficient delivery
In order to fully deliver on those activities, all partners need to learn from the lessons of the past, in particular by setting up a new type of governance which avoids overlaps or lack of coordination.
5.2.1.Meeting funding needs to address challenges
The Commission commits to deepen its engagement with south-east Europe partners and allocate dedicated financial resources to bring them up to the required standards. In addition to the EUR 11.8 million granted in December 2019 by the Council 51 , the Commission intends to mobilise and earmark available means of the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance to meet the most urgent challenges. In the context of the negotiations of the multi-annual financial framework, the Commission calls on Member States to respond to the needs by agreeing ambitious budgetary solutions and mobilising their national experts on the ground.
The Commission together with the High Representative will convene a steering committee of key implementing partners and donors including Member State representatives, the European External Action Service, relevant United Nations Agencies (UNDP and UNODC) and NATO. The ambition of this steering committee would be to ensure the strategic global coordination of donors, including those which are not part of the steering board of the United Nations’ Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the implementation of the Roadmap. In dialogue with the governments of the region, the Commission will propose a Memorandum of understanding between those participants, aiming at reaching joint decisions of the projects to be financed. In full respect of the legal autonomy of the donors, and in full respect of the applicable decision-making procedures under the Treaties, such memorandum could set out how the committee would develop a regional and national budgetary planning and receive consolidated financial reporting of all relevant activities and instruments. This would provide all donors and stakeholders with a comprehensive up-to-date vision of the planned or implemented activities, as well as their cost. To ensure synergies of efforts and effective liaison with SEESAC, coordination of donors at local level will be stepped up, and a coordination function will be ensured, notably by designating a regional firearms coordinator, working in one of the EU delegations in south-east Europe, such as the EU delegation in Belgrade.
5.2.2.A holistic steering to implement the south-east Europe activities
The Commission proposes to streamline the work of the existing bodies to improve coordination. The political steer should continue to be given by the Council in the EU, as well as by Justice and Home Affairs and, as appropriate Foreign Affairs and other ministerial meetings between the EU and south-east Europe partners.
To ensure the regional strategic steering of the activities, all national inter-ministerial bodies convening all institutions relevant for small arms control (Small arms commissions) should continue to meet, with the presence of EU representatives. As is now the practice, Roadmap coordination meetings would be organised together with them and facilitate the review of progress in the implementation of the Roadmap, sharing of the lessons learnt and discuss closing the remaining gaps.
At regional law-enforcement level, it would also be appropriate to streamline the panoply of existing bodies. 52 The Commission suggests that joint meetings between EU and south-east Europe experts take place in the framework of EMPACT Firearms, where Western Balkan partners are already invited.
At all levels, the Commission calls on authorities to send participants entrusted with a clear mandate to deliver a position and take commitments or provide input on possible deliverables.
Finally, with respect to administrative management, since 2002, SEESAC has notably facilitated processes of the small arms commissions, of the south-east Europe firearms expert network, and the coordination of the regional Roadmap. It has provided substantial technical assistance to partners of the region, which is praised by all stakeholders on the ground. This process should continue, in line with EU Council Decisions (CFSP) 2013/710, 2016/2356, 2018/1788 and 2019/2111, in a spirit of transparency with respect to the overall budget management through the steering committee of donors. In particular, planning of meetings, budgetary and reporting documents should be presented in line with the integrated approach, after consultation with the Commission.
The Commission attaches the greatest importance to guiding and supporting the partners towards meeting the various commitments and using the indicators to measure the results, such as the biannual reporting of the progress in the implementation of the regional Roadmap to SEESAC and the planned mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the regional Roadmap under Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788. It will therefore use the full leverage of the accession process to discuss and monitor steps taken in view of implementing the action plan. This means that Justice and Home Affairs Sub-Committee meetings as well as the annual country reports will be used to take stock of progress made. The accession negotiations in Chapter 24 – Justice, freedom and security, will be used to help meeting the objectives of the action plan. As regards non-enlargement countries, an update of progress will be discussed in the context of the Sub-Committees on Justice and Home Affairs, Rule of Law Platforms or other existing fora.
6.Conclusions
Fighting the illicit access to firearms must be a cross-thematic security priority for the European Union, its Member States and its partners. It instigates individual physical insecurity and increases the risk of domestic violence that may escalate into homicide, or that firearms may be used to commit suicide. It helps in addressing other forms of criminal activities, such as terrorism, illicit drugs trafficking, trafficking of human beings, smuggling of migrants, maritime piracy, counterfeiting, environmental crime, or organised property crime. The Commission calls on the European Parliament, the Council, Member States and south-east Europe partners to fully recognise the need to step up actions in this area at national level, at EU level and through international cooperation.
The Commission believes that the comprehensive and multidisciplinary character of this action plan can provide a coherent operational framework for the EU and its Member States within the EU’s borders, and proposals for cooperation and assistance to fight firearms trafficking in and with south-east Europe.
The Commission notably calls on all EU institutions, law enforcement authorities and stakeholders, both within the EU and in south-east Europe, to live up to the challenges mentioned in this action plan. The Commission calls on the European Parliament and the Council to endorse this Action plan and support and harness the full potential of each strategic priority.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 24.7.2020
COM(2020) 608 final
ANNEXES
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITEE OF THE REGIONS
2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking
ANNEX 1
List of relevant legislation and EU initiatives
EU legislation
·Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, OJ L 256 13.9.1991, p. 51 (amended);
·Common Position (CFSP) 2008/944 of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment, amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1560 of 16 September 2019, OJ L 239, 17.9.2019, p. 16;
·Directive 2009/43/EC of 6 May 2009 simplifying terms and conditions of transfers of defence-related products within the Community, OJ L 146, 10.6.2009, p. 1;
·Regulation (EU) No 258/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 implementing Article 10 of the United Nations’ Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UN Firearms Protocol), and establishing export authorisation, and import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, OJ L 94, 30.3.2012, p. 1;
·Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 establishing common guidelines on deactivation standards and techniques for ensuring that deactivated firearms are rendered irreversibly inoperable, OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 62 (amended);
·Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 of 16 January 2019 establishing technical specifications for the marking of firearms and their essential components under Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, OJ L 15, 17.1.2019, p. 18;
·Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/69 of 16 January 2019 laying down technical specifications for alarm and signal weapons under Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, OJ L 15, 17.1.2019, p. 22;
·Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/686 of 16 January 2019 laying down the detailed arrangements under Council Directive 91/477/EEC for the systematic exchange, by electronic means, of information relating to the transfer of firearms within the Union, OJ L 116, 3.5.2019, p. 1;
·Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/689 of 16 January 2019 on a pilot project to implement certain administrative cooperation provisions set out in Council Directive 91/477/EEC by means of the Internal Market Information System; OJ L 116, 3.5.2019, p. 75.
International instruments
·2001 Convention against transnational organised crime and its Protocol on Illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition;
·2001 United Nations Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;
·2005 International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons;
·2013 Arms Trade Treaty.
EU initiatives
General
·EU Policy Cycle 2014-2018, first operational action plan as part of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. 1 This included numerous activities geared towards increasing the collection, gathering and production of intelligence, improving exchange of ballistics information, setting up national focal points, organising joint control operations on specific threats (converted weapons, gas and alarm weapons, parcel delivery), training and capacity building and international cooperation.
·Firearms and the internal security of the EU: protecting citizens and disrupting illegal trafficking, Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, COM (2013) 716 of 21.10.2013.
·European Agenda on Security, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, COM (2015) 185 final of 28.4.2015.
·EU action plan against illicit trafficking in and use of firearms and explosives, COM(2015) 624 final, 2.12.2015.
·Elements towards an EU Strategy against illicit Firearms, Small Arms & Light Weapons and their Ammunition, Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (JOIN(2018) 17 final, 1.06.2018), endorsed by the Council, turning it into a fully-fledge EU Strategy (Council conclusions of 19 November 2018 – Document 13581/18).
·Commission report for an evaluation of the application of Regulation (EU) No 258/2012 on import, export and transit of civilian firearms, COM(2017) 737 final, 12.12.2017.
·Commission recommendation on immediate steps to improve security of export, import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and essential components and ammunition, calling for strengthening EU rules to improve traceability and the security of export and import control procedures of firearms and the cooperation between authorities in the fight against firearms trafficking, C(2018) 2197 final, 17.4.2018.
South-east Europe
·Action plan on the illicit trafficking of firearms between the EU and the south-east Europe region for 2015-2019, 14 November 2014, Council Document 15516/14, adopted by the Council of 4 and 5 December 2014 (Council Document 16526/14); EU – Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs of 12 December 2014 in Belgrade.
·A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans, COM(2018) 65 final, 6.2.2018. Action 2.12 specifically focused on firearms trafficking.
·Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism for the Western Balkans, signed by the representatives of the European Union and the six Western Balkans partners on 5 October 2018 at the EU-Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial in Tirana. 2 Addressing the issue of illicit trafficking of firearms is included among its five comprehensive objectives. Tailor-made counter-terrorism bilateral arrangements have been jointly developed and concluded with the authorities of all six Western Balkans partners. 3 This includes key issues of firearms trafficking such as the establishment of fully operational firearms focal points. Priority actions are qualified by concrete indications of responsibilities, indicators and deadlines.
·Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, London Summit of the Berlin Process on 10 July 2018. This initiative later received EU financial support through a Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 of 19 November 2018 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 which defines the overall coordination and monitoring of the Roadmap implementation, OJ L 293, 20.11.2018, p. 11.
·Evaluation of the 2015-2019 action plan on firearms trafficking between the EU and the south-east Europe region, Commission Report of 27 June 2019, COM(2019) 293 final, 27.06.2019. According to this evaluation report, the action plan improved networking, exchange of information and put in place the building blocks of future cooperation. However, several planned actions have not yet been fully implemented such as the establishment of firearms focal points, which are necessary for proper enforcement strategies, coordination, intelligence and information exchanges, both nationally and at European level. There is also still no harmonised data collection for firearms seizures which would enable an evidence-based policy and proper and reliable assessment of trafficking trends. Similarly, stakeholders did not develop a standard reporting format for the exchange of information as envisaged by the Action Plan.
·Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 of 9 December 2019 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, OJ L 318, 10.12.2019: Since 2002, the EU has provided assistance to the Western Balkans through a consecutive number of Council Decisions providing financing for small arms control projects worth EUR 18,1 million.
· Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2009 of 2 December 2019 in support of Ukraine’s efforts to combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives, in cooperation with the OSCE; OJ L 312, 3.12.2019, p. 42.
These projects provided a comprehensive support to SALW control efforts and preventing arms trafficking in South East Europe. Since 2002, the key implementing partner of the assistance provided to the region by the Council has been UNDP’s South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC). The new Council Decision of 9 December 2019 grants 11,8 million EUR for arms control activities in the next 4 years. The Small Arms and Light Weapons Commissions and the South East Europe Firearms Experts Network contribute to standardisation of approaches in the region and formulation of activities at the regional and local levels contributing to evidence based policy making; enhanced physical security and stockpile management; improved marking, tracking and record keeping; strengthening capacities for combatting illicit trafficking of firearms through support for establishment of Firearms Focal Points and strengthening of investigation capacities. Support has also been provided for awareness raising, collection campaigns of SALW and ammunition, transparency of arms exports in the region and integration of the gender perspective in SALW control.
·Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020, Joint communication, JOIN(2020) 7 final, 18.3.2020; reiterated the call of the 2015 European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Review for an enhanced security dimension for the disruption of organised crime, including the trafficking of firearms.
ANNEX 2
Intervention logic of the EU Action Plan
ANNEX 3
Specific actions for south-east Europe and its cooperation with the EU
|
Actions |
Time-frame 4 |
Corresponding Key Performance Indicators 5 |
Corresponding activities in the Regional Roadmap 6 |
|
Enabling conditions |
|||
|
Legal environment |
|||
|
Fully approximate legal control with EU legislation (including the 2017 revision of the Firearms Directive), including implementing acts on deactivation standards, on the marking of firearms and their essential components and on technical specifications for alarm and signal weapons. |
2023 |
1.1; 1.2; 1.3 |
G1 T3 |
|
Modernise legal framework for firearms manufacturers and dealers |
2020 |
1.1; 1.4; 1.5 |
G1 T2 |
|
Establish appropriate criminal legal framework to ensure prosecution and convictions of firearms trafficking. |
2024 |
1.5
|
G1 T1
|
|
Approximate criminal and operational procedures across the region to facilitate cross-border operational cooperation. |
2023 |
1.1
|
G1 T4
|
|
Adopt the legal framework to allow legalisations of firearms and voluntary surrenders of firearms, ammunitions and explosives |
2020 |
11 |
G5 T2 |
|
Administrative structure |
|
||
|
Establish fully operational and staffed firearms focal points in each jurisdiction. |
2020 |
7 |
G2 T2
|
|
Training and capacity-building |
|||
|
Improved processes, equipment and training of law enforcement units. |
2024 |
7 |
G3 T2 |
|
Step up national trainings on countering firearms trafficking. Diversify attendance to CEPOL training courses. |
2024 |
7 |
G3 T4 |
|
Prevention and awareness-raising |
|||
|
Increasing stockpile security |
|||
|
Establish inspection systems and implement Life Cycle Management of small arms and light weapons, for both governmental and private facilities. Provide training and capacity-building to both. |
2024 |
12.4 |
G7 T1
|
|
Ensure safe and secure storage for firearms |
2024 |
13 |
G7 T2 |
|
Stockpile reduction |
|||
|
Systematic destruction of surpluses and confiscated weapons |
2024 |
12.2, 12.3, 12.5, 12.6 |
G6 |
|
Voluntary surrenders and buy-back programmes |
|||
|
Establish national and regional programmes for deactivation, legalisation, and voluntary surrenders, and destruction according to the standards. |
2024 |
11 |
G5 T3 |
|
Awareness-raising campaigns and gender dimension |
|||
|
Establish awareness-raising campaigns in the general population, and with specific audiences (e.g. manufacturers, licensed private and legal persons), building advocacy networks. |
2024 |
2
|
G4 |
|
Fully integrate gender concerns in firearms control policies, and ensure proper representation of women in firearms control and law enforcement. |
2022 |
2.3 |
G2 T9 |
|
Stronger law enforcement |
|||
|
Intelligence |
|
||
|
Standardize procedures, systematize exchange of information, including outside of individual investigations. |
2023 |
9 |
G1 T5 |
|
Establish comprehensive data collection on firearms denials (of ownership, transfers, import or export authorisations), on gun crime, on firearms seizures. Systematize collection of criminal justice data from all players (police, customs, prosecutors, courts, prison services). Issue regular gun crime analysis reports, and threat assessments. |
2024 |
2.2
|
G2 T1
|
|
Systematic collection of data regarding lost and stolen firearms and essential components with the aim of tracing including the use of iARMS. |
2022 |
5
|
G2 T8 |
|
Rigorous legal control |
|||
|
Collect detailed statistics on firearms ownership and movements (imports and export authorisations). |
2024 |
2 |
G2 T1
|
|
Strengthened control, monitoring and prevention of diversion. |
2024 |
1; 6.3; 6.4 |
G1 T5
|
|
Strengthen operational cooperation (joint patrols, increased involvement of police and customs cooperation, including the cooperation centres), increased use of international assistance and special investigation tools provided by EMPACT and Europol. |
2024 |
9 |
G3 T4 |
|
Tracing |
|||
|
Establish systematic tracing of all weapons seized, and sharing of information with Europol. |
2024 |
5 |
G1 T5
|
|
Ballistic analysis |
|||
|
Systematise ballistics analysis and facilitate exchange of ballistic information |
2020 |
7 |
G2 T4 |
|
Exchange of information at all stages |
|||
|
Continue regular exchange of good practices in a streamlined administrative environment (less overlaps between meetings, clearer expectations of the meeting results, clear mandate and ability to take commitments given to country representatives), and involving customs, police, forensics, prosecutors and court services. |
2023 |
G1 T6 |
|
|
Ensure systematic exchange of operational and strategic information in EMPACT Firearms (use of the appropriate SIENA strings), with Europol, Frontex and Eurojust. Ensure that information requests and submission of information get regular and systematic feedback from the recipient. |
2024 |
8 |
G2 T4
|
|
Gather information and build a sound intelligence picture on the use of Darknet for illicit trade of firearms, in the framework of the EU Policy Cycle. |
2021 |
ANNEX 4
Key Performance Indicators
The following indicators were developed in the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024. They are worded in this annex in a way to apply also to EU Member States. This does not affect the way Western Balkans partners have started to report on the implementation of the Roadmap. The numbering of the indicators is unaltered.
1.Number of legal frameworks on arms control fully harmonized with the EU legislation, 7 the Arms Trade Treaty and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (The Firearms Protocol)
1.1.Arms control legislative acts regarding the civil use of firearms and ammunitions in line with the relevant EU Directives on firearms and ammunition;
1.2.Arms control legislative acts regarding the civil use of explosives harmonized with the relevant EU Directives on explosives;
1.3.Arms control legislative acts regarding the military use of firearms, ammunition and explosives harmonized with Directive 2009/43/EC;
1.4.Arms export control legislative acts in line with Common Position CFSP 2008/944 and the Arms Trade Treaty;
1.5.Arms control legislative acts in line with the Firearms Protocol.
2.South-east Europe only: Number of evidence-based arms control policy documents, developed in each jurisdiction, that are also addressing needs of men, women, boys and girls;
2.1.SALW Strategy is in place.
2.2.SALW Strategy is evidence-based.
2.3.SALW Strategy addresses the needs of men, women, boys and girls.
3.Number of cases, individuals concerned, and quantity of misused and trafficked firearms, ammunition and explosives (FAE) prosecuted and adjudicated in comparison to the number of law enforcement reports on respective seizures;
4.Number of cases and quantity of FAE seized inland (including on borders between Member States inside the European Union) compared to the number of cases and quantity of FAE seized at the external borders (borders of south-east Europe partners or EU external border);
4.1.Number of cases of FAE seized inland;
4.2.Number of firearms seized inland;
4.3.Number of pieces of ammunition seized inland;
4.4.Quantity of explosives seized inland;
4.5.Number of cases of FAE seized at the external border;
4.6.Number of firearms seized at the external border;
4.7.Number of pieces of ammunition seized at the external border;
4.8.Quantity of explosives seized at the external border.
5.Number of reported cases of FAE seized at the borders of the European Union and traced to south-east Europe, compared to the number of FAE seized throughout the European Union and traced to or diverted from south-east Europe;
5.1.[not applicable – already covered by 4.2]
5.2.[not applicable – already covered by 4.3]
5.3.[not applicable – already covered by 4.4]
5.4.Number of firearms seized at the borders of the EU and traced to south-east Europe;
5.5.Quantity of ammunition seized at the borders of the EU and traced to south-east Europe;
5.6.Quantity of explosives seized at the borders of the EU and traced to south-east Europe;
5.7.Number of firearms seized throughout the EU and traced to south-east Europe;
5.8.Quantity of ammunition seized throughout the EU and traced to south-east Europe;
5.9.Quantity of explosives seized throughout the EU and traced to south-east Europe.
6.Number of FAE for which export licenses were issued by national competent authorities, and identified as diverted
6.1.Number of arms export licenses issued and realized;
6.2.Number of ammunition export licenses issued and realized;
6.3.Number of cases in which arms, for which licenses were issued and realized, were identified as diverted
6.4.Number of cases in which ammunition, for which licenses were issued and realized, were identified as diverted through post-shipment control procedures.
7.Firearms Focal Points and capacity-building
7.1.Firearms Focal Points (FFP) established and operational in each jurisdiction, meeting the standards of the EU Best practice guidance; 8
7.2.Number of staff that received training on the firearms threat at EU level (CEPOL trainings, notably) and at national level (including cascading training).
8.Number of inter-institutional cooperation cases at operational level, including investigation, prosecution and pretrial phases;
8.1.Number of FAE-related incidents recorded by national law enforcement authorities;
8.2.FAE cases processed by the misdemeanour judge;
8.3.FAE cases solved by the misdemeanour judge;
8.4.Number of FAE cases dropped by the prosecutor;
8.5.Number of FAE cases dropped by the judge/pretrial judge.
9.Number of cases of operational cooperation sourced from intelligence information including ballistic intelligence in the fight against firearms-related crimes, with EU member states, south-East Europe authorities, and agencies as well as international law enforcement agencies;
9.1.Number of intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation at the jurisdiction level;
9.2.Number of intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation in south-east Europe;
9.3.Number of intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation with Frontex;
9.4.Number of intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation with Europol/EMPACT;
9.5.Number of bilateral intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation between south-east Europe partners and EU Member States that do not involve Europol;
9.6.Number of intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation with Interpol.
9.7.EU-only: Number of bilateral intelligence-led cases of operational cooperation between EU Member States that do not involve Europol/EMPACT;
9.8.EU-only: Number of entries and searches in the Schengen Information System;
9.9.EU-only: Number of entries and searches in the Customs Risk Management System;
10.Number of incidents involving firearms and victims affected by the misuse of firearms, disaggregated by gender and age, in each jurisdiction;
10.1.Number of incidents committed with legal and illegal firearms;
10.2.Number of persons murdered with firearms, by gender and age;
10.3.Number of persons injured with firearms, by gender and age;
10.4.Number of persons who committed suicide with firearm, by gender and age.
11.Number of firearms and ammunition voluntarily surrendered, as well as firearms legalized or deactivated;
11.1.Number of firearms voluntarily surrendered;
11.2.Number of ammunition voluntarily surrendered;
11.3.Number of firearms legalized;
11.4.Number of firearms deactivated according to EU standards.
12.Number of reported SALW/firearms, ammunition, and explosives (confiscated or surplus) systematically destroyed
12.1.Quantity of reported firearms/ammunition/explosives confiscated;
12.2.Quantity of firearms/ammunition/explosives confiscated and destroyed;
12.3.Quantity of firearms/ammunition/explosives confiscated and disposed of in another ways;
12.4.Quantity of surplus firearms/ammunition/explosives;
12.5.Quantity of surplus firearms/ammunition/explosives destroyed;
12.6.Quantity of surplus firearms/ammunition/explosives disposed of in another way.
13.Number of SALW/firearms and their ammunition storage facilities in line with international safety and security standards;
13.1.Number of SALW and ammunition military storage facilities;
13.2.Number of SALW/firearms and ammunition law enforcement storage facilities;
13.3.Number of firearms and ammunition civilian storages;
13.4.Number of military storage facilities in line with safety and security international standards;
13.5.Number of law enforcement storage facilities in line with safety and security international standards;
13.6.Number of firearms and ammunition civilian storages in line with safety and security international standards.
14.Percentage of citizens' satisfaction (disaggregated by age and gender) or feeling of safety on armed violence.
14.1.Percentage of citizens feeling threatened by the illegal possession and misuse of weapons.