Between 4 and 6 June, EU Member States representatives from the European Peace Facility (EPF) Committee visited their partners in Sarajevo. The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently supported by the European Peace Facility with assistance packages worth over €20 million, and the EPF also finances the common costs of the EU military operation in the country, EUFOR Althea. EU support as a security partner with Bosnia and Herzegovina is making a real difference.
The visit of the European Peace Facility Committee, led by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, provided an opportunity to engage with partners on the EU support and meet the EU family in the country, including the Commander of EUFOR Althea, Major General Florin-Marian Barbuand the Head of the EU Delegation and the EU Special Representative, Luigi Soreca. With the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – which the EU supports with different assistance measures – EU Member States discussed military capability development. Looking at synergies between those who support Bosnia and Herzegovina in building their military capacities, they also met with NATO Commander Brigadier General Valas.
Contributing to the modernisation of the Armed Forces
Since 2021, the EU supports the strengthening of the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the European Peace Facility. The EU adopted a first support package in 2021, sending a strong signal about the strategic importance of engaging with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of security and defence. This support, worth €10 million, targeted the modernisation of the demining equipment of the Armed Forces with the objective of supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina to become mine-free. The support will also facilitate the demining battalion’s participation in future EU missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy. Implementation of this package is now completed.
A second support package under the European Peace Facility, also worth €10 million, was adopted by Member States to continue strengthening the Armed Forces’ operational capabilities. The European Peace Facility support will improve the security and deployment conditions of the Armed Forces of BiH when in operations. This means it will also upgrade targeted operational capabilities, specifically counter-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) as well as defensive and early warning capabilities, so that the armed forces meet common operational requirements. The support package is currently being implemented and it targets the provision of field equipment (such as tents, water tank vehicles, electric generators), key tools for military engineers including transport vehicles and high accuracy GPS devices, as well as sampling kits, decontamination systems, radiological detectors for CBRN. Deliveries are ongoing and are accompanied as relevant by training on the equipment delivered to ensure the effectiveness of the support.
EUFOR Althea: supporting a safe environment on the EU path
In December 2004, nine years after the war ended and following NATO’s decision to hand over its own peacekeeping mission that had maintained security in the region, the EU launched the military Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the ‘Berlin Plus’ arrangements.
A robust EU military force, called “EUFOR”, was deployed to ensure continued compliance with the Dayton/Paris Agreement and to support Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities in maintaining a safe and secure environment in the country. This was done through close liaison to local security providers, combined training with the Armed Forces of BiH, and providing expertise and support in the relevant fields. EUFOR helps to create the conditions to deliver the long-term political objective of a stable country.
Over the years, the responsibility for the execution of several tasks has been handed over to the local authorities, according to the principle of ‘local ownership’ and in line with BiH’s path towards EU membership.
Flagship tool
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the common foreign and security policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters.
