Ivica Bošnjak, the Deputy Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Hans Leijtens, the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), todaysigned a Memorandum of Understanding at the Headquarters of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
This ensures cooperation between the complaints mechanisms of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Frontex, as well as the exchange of information regarding allegations of fundamental rights violations during all operational activities conducted by Frontex on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Memorandum was signed during the celebration of the Day of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a statement from the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On that occasion, Ivica Bošnjak, the Deputy Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency represents an important segment in strengthening the capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fields of border management, information exchange, training, and a joint response to contemporary security challenges.
“Such cooperation contributes to the improvement of working standards and further confirms the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to European security values and its partnership with European Union institutions, which we also confirmed by signing the Status Agreement with Frontex,” Bošnjak emphasized.
He recalled that there are currently 126 Frontex officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina providing support to the police officers of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina in performing their daily duties. Frontex officers are deployed at border crossings with the Republic of Croatia, Montenegro, and the Republic of Serbia.
“Frontex’s engagement is of great importance for our contribution to building the European security system. All of this points to the fact that only through joint action can weeffectively respond to contemporary security challenges and preserve the safety of all citizens of our country,” Bošnjak concluded.
The signing of the Memorandum further strengthens cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Frontex and ensures the effective protection of fundamental rights in the implementation of joint operational activities, in accordance with the European standards and best practices.
