European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson sent congratulations to the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nenad Nešić on the occasion of the opening of the Joint/National Contact Point (NCP) for cooperation with EUROPOL, which is planned this week in Sarajevo.
She reminded that this achievement is the result of a long process and represents another significant milestone in the cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union (EU).
The full operationalization of cooperation will enable direct cooperation between EUROPOL and all police bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the deployment of liaison officers at Europol headquarters in The Hague.
Commissioner Johansson reminded of another important agreement that BiH needs to sign with the EU – the Status Agreement with the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex).
She emphasized that this agreement will be mutually beneficial for the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening joint border management, and she reminded that the countries of the region have started negotiations or have already signed this agreement.
“I am convinced that the operationalization of the National Contact Point and its start of work and the start of negotiations on the Status Agreement with Frontex will contribute to solving new challenges along the Western Balkans route in a coordinated and comprehensive way,” said Johansson.
The European Union will be represented at the opening of the National Contact Point by the Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Olivier Onidi.
