Press releases
06.03.2013 - EUFOR Althea seminar and vip keynote speakers celebrate international women’s day
09.04.2012 - Interview de "@Bruxelles2" avec le Col. Beary (EUTM Somalia) : former les Somaliens, un bon investissement !
21.03.2011 - Council Conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina
26.04.2010 - Extract from Council conclusions on CSDP, Luxembourg
The Council welcomed Operation Althea’s continued important contribution to the EU’s
comprehensive efforts in BiH. The Council recalled its Conclusions of 25 January 2010.
The Council welcomed progress with the implementation of the Operation’s new capacitybuilding
and training tasks, which would contribute to strengthening local ownership and
capacity. It also reiterated the importance of Member States continuing to provide the
necessary resources for the ongoing Operation’s executive role.
25.01.2010 - Council conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina: Operation ALTHEA
04.12.2009 - HR Catherine Ashton congratulates Bernhard Bair on taking office as EU Force Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA
17.11.2009 - Extract from Council conclusions on ESDP, Brussels, 17 November 2009
The Council assessed Operation ALTHEA and approved the recommendations made in the Secretary-General/High Representative’s six-monthly report on the operation.
The Council reconfirmed that Operation ALTHEA remained an important part of EU’s comprehensive efforts in BiH to support a political process aimed at enabling BiH, on the basis of necessary reforms, to continue to move forward in the EU integration process.
The Council noted that the security situation in BiH continued to remain stable, despite the challenging political environment. The Council welcomed the positive contribution of the force to the safe and secure environment in BiH, and added that the EU-led force (EUFOR) continued to provide reassurance and remained ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country.
The Council welcomed further progress with the preparatory planning work for the possible future evolution of Operation ALTHEA towards a non-executive capacity-building and training operation. The Council reiterated that a decision on the possible evolution of Operation ALTHEA would need to take political developments, including the future role of the EU Special Representative, into account. It is expected to revert to the issue at its forthcoming meeting in December.
The Council reiterated the importance of Member States providing the operation with the necessary resources for the implementation of the mandate.
Coherence of EU action in BiH - involving all EU actors including the Commission and EU Heads of Mission - remains important. The EU Force Commander, the EUSR and the Head of EUPM continue to consult each other regularly prior to taking action. EUFOR has also maintained a close working relationship, including on operational matters, with other international actors. Cooperation with NATO continues to work well in respect of Operation ALTHEA.
18.05.2009 - Council conclusions on ALTHEA, Brussels
The Council assessed Operation ALTHEA and approved the recommendations made in the Secretary General/High Representative's six-monthly report on the operation.
The Council noted that, despite the challenging political environment, the security situation in Bosnia-and-Herzegovina (BiH) remained stable. The Council welcomed the positive contribution of the force to the safe and secure environment in BiH, and added that the EU-led force (EUFOR) continued to provide reassurance and remained ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country.
The Council welcomed the progress on the preparatory work for a possible evolution of Operation ALTHEA.The Council approved, for planning purposes, the Concept, and the Provisional Statement of Requirements, for the possible evolution of Operation ALTHEA towards a non-executive capacity-building and training operation, in the light of advice and conclusions of relevant Council bodies. The Council reconfirmed that it would keep this planning work under regular review so that a decision on the future of the operation could be taken once the necessary conditions had been met. The Council reiterated that approval of the Concept does not prejudge a political decision on the possible evolution of Operation ALTHEA, which would need to take political developments, including the future role of the EU Special Representative, into account.
Coherence of EU action in BiH - involving all EU actors including the Commission and EU Heads of Mission - remains important. The EU Force Commander, the EUSR and the Head of EUPM continue to consult each other regularly prior to taking action. EUFOR has also maintained a close working relationship, including on operational matters, with other international actors. Cooperation with NATO continues to work well in respect of Operation ALTHEA.
04.12.2008 - EU HR Javier SOLANA congratulates Major General Stefano CASTAGNOTTO on taking office as EU Force Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA
10.11.2008 - Extract from GAERC conclusions on ESDP, Brussels
The Council assessed operation ALTHEA and approved the recommendations made in the Secretary-General/High Representative's six-monthly report on the operation.
The Council expressed deep concern at the recent political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it noted that despite a difficult political situation, the security situation remained stable.
In the context of the European Union's overall commitment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council highlighted the decisive progress made by operation ALTHEA towards accomplishing its mandate, and in particular the completion of the military and stabilisation tasks provided for by the Dayton/Paris Agreement. Accordingly, the Council considered that the preparatory work for a possible development of the operation should be continued, taking into account the future role of the EU Special Representative.
The outcome of this preparatory work will be submitted to the Council in March 2009 so that it can take a decision on the future of the operation as soon as the conditions have been met. The future development of operation ALTHEA will have to take political developments into account.
The Council noted that cooperation with NATO on operation ALTHEA was continuing to work smoothly.
23.10.2008 - EUFOR signs MOU - Promoting the role of women in building peace and sustainable security
19.06.2008 - EU HR Javier SOLANA offers his heartfelt condolences following the helicopter accident in Bosnia and Herzegovina
16.06.2008 - Council conclusions on ALTHEA
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"The Council reviewed Operation ALTHEA and approved the Secretary General/High
Representative's recommendations on the Operation in the light of advice from relevant Council bodies.
The Council reiterated that the EU remained actively committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including through Operation ALTHEA, and that, as part of the EU's overall engagement in the country, the EU-led military presence would remain there for as long as necessary. The Council welcomed recent political developments in BiH, and noted that further developments in the country
would need to be reflected in the EU's overall engagement. The Council noted that the security situation remained stable, welcomed the positive contribution of the operation to the safe and secure environment in BiH, and added that the EU-led force (EUFOR) continued to provide reassurance and remained ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country.
EUFOR numbers some 2500 troops on the ground, backed up by over-the-horizon reserves. Its operational focus remains the maintenance of a safe and secure environment and the transfer of Joint Military Affairs (JMA) tasks to relevant national authorities. The Council welcomed the successful participation of elements of the European Gendarmerie Force in the Integrated Police Unit of EUFOR since November 2007.
The Council underlined that coherence of overall EU action, including in support of further progress on reforms, in BiH - involving all EU actors, including the Commission and EU Heads of Mission - remained a priority. It noted that the EU Force Commander, the EUSR and the Head of EUPM continued to consult each other regularly prior to taking action. EUFOR has also maintained
a close working relationship, including on operational matters, with other international actors. In respect of Operation ALTHEA, co-operation with NATO continues to work smoothly and efficiently."
26.05.2008 - Council conclusions on ALTHEA
(Extract from the Conclusions on ESDP, 2870th External Relations Council meeting,
Brussels, 26 May 2008)
The Council reiterated that the EU remained actively committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including through Operation ALTHEA, and that, as part of the EU's overall engagement in the country, the EU-led military presence would remain there for as long as necessary. The Council welcomed the positive contribution of the force to the safe and secure environment in BiH. The security situation remains stable and the EU-led force (EUFOR) continues to provide reassurance, and remains ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country.
The Council further welcomed the continued contribution of EUFOR, together with other forms of EU engagement, to international efforts to support reform of the security sector in BiH.
Following the successful reconfiguration of Operation ALTHEA in BiH in 2007 EUFOR numbers some 2500 troops on the ground, backed up by over-the-horizon reserves. Its operational focus remains the maintenance of a safe and secure environment and the transfer of Joint Military Affairs (JMA) tasks to relevant national authorities. Elements of the European Gendarmerie Force have successfully participated in the Integrated Police Unit of EUFOR since November 2007.
Coherence of EU action in BiH - involving all EU actors including the Commission and EU Heads of Mission - remains a priority. The EU Force Commander, the EUSR and the Head of EUPM continue to consult each other regularly prior to taking action. EUFOR has also maintained a close working relationship, including on operational matters, with other international actors. In respect of Operation ALTHEA, cooperation with NATO has continued to work smoothly and efficiently.
10.12.2007 - Council Conclusions on Operation ALTHEA - Brussels
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"The Council reviewed Operation ALTHEA and welcomed the positive contribution of the operation to the safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Council approved the Secretary General/High Representative's recommendations on Operation ALTHEA in the light of the advice received from relevant Council bodies. The mandate of the operation was extended for a further 12-month period by the UN Security Council on 21 November 2007 (UNSCR 1785).
The Council welcomed the latest political developments in BiH, including the renewed commitment to police reform, and noted that the security situation remained stable. The Council reiterated that EUFOR continued to provide reassurance and remained ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country. The Council stressed that the EU remained actively committed to BiH, including through Operation ALTHEA, and agreed that, as part of the EU's overall engagement in the country, the EU-led military presence would remain there for as long as necessary.
The Council underlined that coherence of EU action in BiH – involving all EU actors, including the Commission and EU Heads of Mission – remained a priority. The Council welcomed the fact that EUFOR continued to maintain a close working relationship, including on operational matters, with its EU partners and other international actors. It noted in this context that co-operation with the EUPM in supporting the fight against organised crime, on the basis of Common Operational Guidelines, was well established and had proved effective; and that the EU Force Commander, the EUSR and the Head of EUPM continued to consult each other regularly prior to taking action. The Council welcomed the recent translation of this co-operation and co-ordination into the mandates (Joint Actions) of the relevant EU actors. The Council noted that co-operation with NATO continued to work well in respect of Operation ALTHEA."
04.12.2007 - Address on behalf of EU High Representative Javier SOLANA by EU Special Representative and HR Miroslav LAJČÁK, at the EUFOR Change of Command Ceremony
04.12.2007 - EUFOR CHANGE OF COMMAND
08.03.2007 - Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, welcomes EUFOR's operation in support of the ICTY in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Brussels
28.02.2007 - Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU confirms decision on transition - Brussels
11.12.2006 - 2771st External relations Council meeting, 11-12 December 2006 - Council conclusions
ATHENA REVIEW
The Council reached agreement on a draft decision amending ATHENA, the mechanism to administer the common costs of EU operations having military Implications.
The decision amends the February 2004 decision establishing ATHENA by
introducing a series of technical modifications and by reviewing the different categories of items to be borne by ATHENA (operational common costs relative to the active phase of operations always borne by ATHENA ;
operational common costs relative to the active phase of a specific operation borne by ATHENA when the Council so decides; and operational common costs borne by ATHENA when requested by the Operation Commander and approved by the Special Committee).
11.12.2006 - Council conclusions on the Operation "ALTHEA" - 2770th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting - Brussels
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"The Council reviewed Operation ALTHEA and welcomed the positive contribution of the operation to the safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Council approved the SG/HR´s recommendations for Operation ALTHEA in the light of the advices received from relevant Council bodies and underlined the continued need for an EU military presence to provide reassurance and to react to any possible security challenges.
The security situation in BiH has evolved enough to permit the Council to decide in principle on a transition of Operation ALTHEA. The implementation should go ahead in accordance with the agreed concept for transition, subject to a definitive decision (revised OPLAN) by the Political and Security Committee set to be taken by the end of February 2007, taking into account the security situation in the country as well as the impact on that, of the regional security situation.
The decision to proceed to the subsequent steps of the transition will be taken by the Council in due time.
The EU remains committed to BiH and through its military presence will continue to contribute to the maintenance of the safe and secure environment.
The Council noted that cooperation with NATO continues to work well in respect of Operation ALTHEA, in Brussels as well as in BiH, in the context of the "Berlin Plus" arrangements."
05.12.2006 - Remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for CFSP at the EUFOR Change of Command Ceremony Camp Butmir, Sarajevo
03.07.2006 - Signature of an agreement on the participation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Operation ALTHEA, Brussels
06.12.2005 - Remarks of EU HR SOLANA at the EUFOR Change of Command Ceremony, Sarajevo
01.12.2005 - Foreword by EU HR SOLANA for Special Edition of FORUM, EUFOR, Brussels
03.02.2005 - Javier SOLANA met with Paddy Ashdown, High Representative/EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brussels
02.12.2004 - Launch of the EU "ALTHEA" operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Speech by EU HR Javier Solana in Sarajevo