Bosnia and Herzegovina: Launch of the EU Military Operation ALTHEA

On December 2, 2004, 9 years after the end of the war, the European Union (EU) launched the military operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This followed NATO’s decision to hand over its own peacekeeping mission that had maintained security in the region since the end of the war. The EU deployed a robust military force (EUFOR) to ensure continued compliance with the Dayton/Paris Agreement and to contribute to a Safe and Secure Environment (SASE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration reaffirmed that the future of the Western Balkans, of which Bosnia and Herzegovina is a central and important part, lies within the EU. Operation ALTHEA is an aspect of the EU’s overall and coherent commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It adds an additional dimension to the existing political engagement, assistance programs, and police and monitoring missions already underway. ALTHEA is the third and largest military operation launched by the EU to date.
The Mission focuses on maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment (SASE) within Bosnia and Herzegovina, fully cooperating with the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Civil Authorities of the country. EUFOR supports the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AF BiH) with regular combined training courses and annual large-scale exercises to achieve the mission objectives.
Following various restructuring processes, EUFOR troops were reduced to approximately 600, and the Force now focuses mainly on collective and combined training together with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AF BiH).
EUFOR has a Multinational Battalion that allows it to respond as needed to support the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment (SASE). It has never needed to act in this capacity. EUFOR has a small footprint in terms of personnel but has the ability to quickly mobilize reserve forces from across Europe to supplement its capabilities.