Deadline extended for call for papers – Special Bulletin Edition on Firearms Trafficking

Firearms trafficking remains a significant security concern at the EU level, facilitating organised crime and posing threats to public safety. Addressing these emerging challenges requires continuous research, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. In response to this issue, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) is preparing the Special Thematic Edition No. 2 of the European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin dedicated to firearms trafficking. 

CEPOL and its International Cooperation Unit is pleased to invite law enforcement services including prosecutors and judiciary authorities, senior policymakers, frontline officers, academic researchers, and practitioners specialising in firearms trafficking to contribute to this Special Thematic Edition.

We welcome papers that contribute to a comprehensive understanding of firearms trafficking, addressing a wide range of areas such as legal, technological, operational, and strategic aspects. 

The following subtopics are of particular interest: 

• Legal frameworks and compliance, focusing on international and national laws regulating firearms.
• Technological advances, exploring the use of technology in producing, tracking, and intercepting illegal firearms.
• International cooperation and information exchange between EU and non-EU countries, as well as interoperability.
• Case studies, analysing specific cases that highlight unique challenges and innovative solutions.
• Strategic analysis, offering insights into the broader implications of firearms trafficking on regional and global security.

Other topics related to firearms trafficking are also welcome.

Important details regarding the submission of papers:

The extended deadline for submissions is 15 July 2025. Contributions will be exclusively accepted by email to research.bulletin@cepol.europa.eu.

Recommended length of contributions: between 2000 and 5000 words, including footnotes and references. Please also note the following:

• The first page should include: full name of the contributor(s), institutional affiliation(s), email address (required); telephone number (optional).
• On the second page please provide an abstract of no more than 250 words, and indicate a maximum of 5 keywords.

Submitted contributions will be subject to a review process, depending on the type of submissions.

Read the full guidelines regarding manuscript submission here.