Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - According to diplomatic sources, the EU high representative is in favour of closing down the EU police mission (EUPM) in Bosnia Herzegovina, whose mandate is due to expire at the end of this year. Amendments are expected to be submitted within the context of a strategic review of the mission currently being prepared by the crisis management and planning directorate. One of the possible options would be to replace the mission that is framed by the European security and defence policy (ESDP) mandate, by a group of experts incorporated into an EU delegation in Bosnia. Following the contribution he made on Tuesday 15 March at the European Parliament's security and defence subcommittee, the head of the mission, General Stefan Feller, explained to EUROPE that “the strategic review must now determine whether it is a matter of crisis management or something else” and, on that basis, “member states have to decide how to tackle the matter”. According to General Feller, EU assistance in police matters is still necessary, especially for ensuring the “cohesion” of the work of different Bosnian agencies responsible for this remit. There are currently 17 different law enforcement agencies in Bosnia, to which the EUPM is supposed to provide assistance in fighting organised crime and corruption. In addition to enhancing cohesion between the agencies, as well as between the agencies and the different ministries, the EUPM also aims to enhance interaction between the police and prosecutors and between the police and prison systems, as well as improve capability for carrying out investigations. It also monitors cooperation between the different regions and Bosnian regional districts. According to Feller, the EUPM is currently made up of 80 police experts, 40 legal and political experts and a Bosnian personnel of 150. It was set up in 2003 as the first ESDP mission. Initially, the EUPM sought to help reform the Bosnian police, an undertaking that was completed in 2009. Since then, its mandate has been modified and re-orientated towards fighting corruption and organised crime. (A.By./transl.fl)