New Mission for EUFOR ALTHEA25.01.2010 - The Foreign Affairs Council recalled 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 Peace Agreement; and underlined Operation Althea's significant contribution to the stability and security of BiH.
Building on these achievements, the Council decided to start providing non-executive capacity-building and training support...
More info... The Council of the European Union decided on 12 July 2004 (Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004) to conduct a military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The EUFOR ALTHEA operation was launched on 2 December 2004.
This EU-led operation adds in a significant way to the EU's political engagement, its assistance programmes and its ongoing police and monitoring missions with a view to helping BiH make further progress towards European integration in the context of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Major General Bernhard Bair took office on 4 December 2009 as the new EU Force Commander of the operation. He succeeds Major General Stefano Castagnotto.
On 17 November 2009, 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 EUFOR continued to provide reassurance and remained ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country.
On 25 January 2010, the Council of the EU underlined Operation Althea's significant contribution to the stability and security in BiH. Building on these achievements, the Council decided to start providing non-executive capacity-building and training support, within the framework of the Operation, subject of the completion of the necessary arrangements.