European Union missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The European Union is leading a police mission and military operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and is thus contributing to the implementation of the peace process in this country and the stabilisation of the Balkans.

ACTS

Council Joint Action2002/210/CFSP of 11 March 2002 on the European Union Police Mission [See modifying acts].

Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina [See modifying acts].

SUMMARY

The European Union is leading two missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a police mission called "EUPM" and a military operation called "EUFOR ALTHEA".

European Union Police Mission (EUPM)

The aim of the European Union police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina is to establish sustainable policing arrangements in this country under Bosnian ownership and in accordance with best European and international practice in this area. The Mission will lead monitoring, mentoring and inspection actions in order to ensure that police officers act in a professional, independent and impartial manner in accordance with legislation and agreements made under the Stabilisation and Association Process with the European Union.

The Mission will also ensure that police services are based on a transparent structure that takes into consideration the multiple ethnic composition of Bosnian society and that all the police forces in the country cooperate with each other. Furthermore, the Mission will ensure that police carry out investigations of corruption and that they are capable of working on all types of criminal activity, including organised crime and terrorism.

The EUPM consists of 192 international members and 220 local members (October 2008). The main headquarters are located in Sarajevo and monitoring units are deployed in the same location as various Bosnia and Herzegovina police structures at medium and high levels. The 27 European Union Member States contribute to the Mission alongside Canada, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.

EUFOR ALTHEA

The aim of the European Union military operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina is to provide deterrence, to contribute to a safe and secure environment and to ensure compliance with Annexes 1.A and 2 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, relating to military matters and internal borders.

EUFOR ALTHEA comprises around 2200 military personnel from 24 Member States, Albania, Chile, Macedonia, Switzerland and Turkey. The operation includes a multinational battalion and an integrated police unit based in Sarajevo, monitoring and liaison teams spread out across the whole country and five regional coordination centres in Sarajevo Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar and Zenica.

Context

On 1 January 2003 the EUPM took over from the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the deployment of which was provided for in the General Agreement Framework for Peace (or the Dayton Peace Agreement) signed in 1995. This was the very first mission organised under the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

EUFOR ALTHEA succeeded the NATO stabilisation force (SFOR) on 2 December 2004. Initially comprising 7 000 personnel, the Mission was restructured at the beginning of 2007 and its numbers were reduced to around 2200 personnel.

See also

For further information on the EUPM, please visit the dedicated Council webpage (EN) and the Mission website (EN).

For further information on EUFOR ALTHEA, please visit the dedicated Council page (EN) and the Operation website (EN).

Last updated: 25.09.2008