Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The Conference on Preventing and Combating Firearms Trafficking in the Context of Russia's Aggression against Ukraine took place in Stockholm on February 14-15. For two days, experts from the European Union and other European countries, customs agencies and international organizations participated in panel discussions and sessions to find possible measures to enhance customs cooperation.
The current rotating Swedish presidency of the Union said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine threatens the security of Europe and increases the risk of firearms smuggling. Nearly a year after Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, representatives from European customs agencies and international organizations are meeting in Stockholm to find ways to enhance customs cooperation and mitigate the effects of the Russian invasion. Security is one of the primary priorities of the Swedish Presidency, and it is essential to strengthen the security and safety of our federation and citizens.
Against this background, the conference focused on three themes:
how to improve and facilitate the exchange of information between customs authorities;
How to improve and intensify cross-border cooperation.
How to strengthen the capacity of customs authorities.
The conference was opened by Justice Minister Gunnar Stromer, emphasizing its importance and saying “Illegal firearms continue to pose a threat to Europe, and responding to the legitimate demands of citizens for safe and secure societies is a priority for the Swedish presidency. This conference was an important step towards strengthening customs cooperation to mitigate the risks posed by it Russian aggression on Ukraine Justice Minister Gunnar Stromer added: "Cross-border cooperation is the key to preventing firearms smuggling."
According to a statement of the rotating presidency of the Union, "The conference brought together nearly 100 representatives from customs agencies and experts from the European Commission, OSCE, Frontex and Europol, among others, to find possible measures to strengthen customs cooperation and combat firearms smuggling. Among the conclusions reached were: The conference highlighted the importance of enhancing information exchange and intensifying cross-border cooperation, including joint operations between customs and other law enforcement authorities.
Volodymyr Kovtun of the State Customs Service of Ukraine attended the conference to present the situation in Ukraine regarding arms control, registration, tracing and recovery in the context of Russia's war of aggression. Representatives from customs agencies in the Balkans were also present to share their experiences and knowledge on preventing and combating firearms smuggling.