28/02/2022 (Agence Europe) – The High Representative of the Union announced, on Monday 28 February, that the EU would mobilise the reserve of its EUFOR Althea operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina of 500 people from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, to prevent possible Russian destabilisation activities in the country, which is already plagued by separatist aspirations on the part of the Republika Srpska. “I’ve decided to mobilise the Operation Althea reserve. Up to now, 500 men and women will reinforce this force on the ground”, announced Josep Borrell at the end of the virtual meeting of EU Defence Ministers. He said it was a “prudent and proportionate sign of our determination to maintain the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the face of possible Russian destabilisation activities in the Balkans”. Currently, 600 troops are deployed in the country. (CG)