Ukraine Strengthens Firearms Control through EU Study Visit to the Netherlands
June 12, 2025
EUAM Ukraine, in cooperation with Europol and the Dutch National Police, organized a study visit to the Netherlands focused on firearms control. The event took place within the framework of the project Enhancing Strategies and Techniques to Combat and Prevent Organized Crime in Ukraine.
Five senior Ukrainian law enforcement officers took part in the visit. The delegation included National Firearms Focal Points from the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as an investigator from the State Bureau of Investigation responsible for investigating crimes involving small arms and light weapons committed by military personnel.
The visit provided the participants with first-hand insights into the best international practices for addressing the illicit circulation of firearms. They gained a deeper understanding of how to access strategic and operational support from Europol and other international partners. A key goal of the visit was to strengthen direct communication channels between Ukrainian firearms focal points and their counterparts in the Dutch National Police, Europol’s Weapons and Explosives Team, and Ukraine’s Liaison Bureau at Europol headquarters. The Netherlands Military Police also contributed to the programme by sharing their expertise in investigating arms trafficking cases involving members of the armed forces.
The visit forms part of EUAM’s broader support to national institutions in building robust frameworks to combat organized crime. This includes assistance in aligning Ukraine’s firearms legislation with EU standards and promoting more effective information exchange among law enforcement agencies at both national and international levels.
