Brussels, 28/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The future European Union-led Althea mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina was the main subject of discussion by the EU Political and Security Committee (COPS) and the North Atlantic Council (NAC) held on Monday 27 September in Brussels. Althea is to take over command of the NATO-led SFOR mission on the ground by the end of the year. "Everyone is pleased with the way things are developing. They are developing fast (…) and in the right direction", EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana said at the close of the meeting. In his view, as for NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the main thing is to ensure smooth transition of SFOR to Althea. Mr Solana also recalled that Althea would be entrusted with operations that go beyond the purely military aspects. He said the EU is resolved to continue the work that NATO has carried out successfully for so long. However, he said, they shall also continue in their commitment to Bosnia-Herzegovina regarding the economic, police and other aspects that will contribute to stabilisation of the country in order to bring it closer to EU institutions. (Source: our publication Atlantic News)