Germany remains committed to the coordinated and effective implementation of the Western Balkans Roadmap to strengthen the control of small arms, light weapons and ammunition (SALW). 

With a new funding contribution of EUR 500,000 to the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust, Germany has contributed over EUR 19.3 million to the Roadmap implementation through the United Nations, out of which EUR 13.8 through the Multi Partner Trust Fund. This makes Germany a key donor and partner to the Trust Fund, in its overall efforts to support initiatives for a safer Western Balkans region.

"The safety and stability of the Western Balkans region is of utmost importance to Germany and Europe as a whole, and the Western Balkans Roadmap is an essential instrument to prevent the diversion of small arms, light weapons, ammunition and explosives within and beyond the region,” said Ambassador Susanne Riegraf, Deputy Federal Commissioner for Disarmament, Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the German Federal Foreign Office.

She added that the Western Balkans Roadmap process is also a good example for regional approaches to arms control. “Stakeholders to similar initiatives in other regions are playing close attention to how the Western Balkans Roadmap is designed and implemented,” Susanne Riegraf highlighted. “In light of these successes within and beyond the region, we are proud to continue our support of the Western Balkans Roadmap,” Ms. Riegraf concluded.

The Multi-Partner Trust Fund supports a donor- and jurisdiction-coordinated approach to the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW, their ammunition and explosives in the Western Balkans. It strengthens coordination, planning and communication among all partners, fosters collaboration, and reduces risks to governments and financial contributors through a comprehensive risk and results-based management system.

Established in March 2019 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as Participating UN Organisations, the Trust Fund has benefitted from a strong cooperation with Germany and France, as the initiators of the Roadmap, that were soon joined by the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. Due to the generosity and commitment of these donors, the Trust Fund mobilised contributions exceeding USD 28.5 million.

Thus far, the Trust Fund’s Steering Committee approved for funding 25 projects in support of the Western Balkans Roadmap implementation, with a value of US$ 26.7 million. The projects are implemented by the Participating UN Organisations, UNDP and UNODC, across the Western Balkans region. UNDP SEESAC functions as the Secretariat of the Trust Fund and is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, providing technical, management, planning and programming support.