The Council of Foreign Ministers announced on Monday 18 October that the EU is ready to continue the executive mandate of Operation EUFOR Althea under a renewed UN authorisation.
“The Council welcomes the continued presence of Operation Althea, which, following the 2017 and 2019 strategic reviews, has refocused on its core mandate of assisting the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a safe and secure environment based on a robust predictive intelligence model”, the conclusions adopted by the ministers state.
The operation also continues to implement the other tasks of the General Framework Agreement for Peace and collective training with the country’s armed forces.
According to the Council, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the operation remained fully operational and continued to support the country. It is also important to continue EUFOR Althea’s coordination with other international actors on the ground, it adds.
“The presence of the operation continues to play an essential role for stability and security in the country, as part of the EU’s comprehensive strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, the Council recalls, reaffirming its unequivocal commitment to the European perspective of the country as a single, united and sovereign country. It therefore “deeply” regrets the country’s prolonged political crisis and condemns the blockage of state institutions.
All political leaders should refrain from provocative and divisive rhetoric and actions, including those challenging the country’s territorial integrity, and should put their joint efforts behind the 14 priorities identified by the European Commission, says the EU Council.
Reiterating its request to the Bosnian authorities, with the support of the international community, to intensify their efforts on the disposal of surplus ammunition, weapons, and explosives and on humanitarian demining, the EU expressed its readiness to continue supporting humanitarian demining activities.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/3FPS2ma (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)