At the recent meeting of the European Union (EU) foreign ministers, the document on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was also discussed, and the part about the European military forces that can be deployed in our country, if necessary, is especially interesting.
The document says that the EU is fully committed to BiHthrough all instruments and that it carries out its activities through the EU Delegation and the Office of the Special Representative (OHR) in BiH with offices in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Brcko District, and Mostar, but also through the EUFOR mission.
“The EUFOR mission has been in the country since 2004 through a United Nations (UN) executive mandate and ensures a secure environment and continues to ensure the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. At the moment, the military forces number 600 soldiers, and 3.500 people are deployed in the reserve, “it was stated.
Namely, the commander of the EUFOR military mission in BiH, General Alexander Platzer, said in November that the security situation in BiH was stable, and also mentioned the possibility of engaging additional forces in the event of a peace breach. It was then announced that EUFOR has enough reserve forces that can be deployed at any time, if necessary.
Reserve forces could come from other Balkan countries, but KFOR from Kosovo could also be used. In addition, there is still a strategic reserve entirely outside. If necessary, another 1.000 soldiers can be called up, and that can be increased.
“We are preparing for certain scenarios. About 700 soldiers came to the annual exercise this year as a reserve force. It was a planned exercise that showed us that the EU and the international community are capable of acting,” Platzer mentioned at the time.
It should be noted that recently EUFOR in BiH has been strengthened by Romanian motorized equipment consisting of armored personnel carriers, as well as logistics and support vehicles.
In November 2021, the mandate of EUFOR in BiH was extended. It was emphasized that this means that they will continue to support local authorities in maintaining a secure and stable environment, in close cooperation with law enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces of BiH.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
