Italian Gianfabio Collela takes command of the EUFOR Multinational Battalion

(Patria) - A new chapter in leadership opened today at the EUFOR Multinational Battalion in Sarajevo's Butmir base.

Colonel Gianfabio Collela of the Italian Armed Forces took command from Colonel Ioan Vasile Rus of the Romanian Armed Forces at a change of command ceremony led by EUFOR Commander, Major General Florin Marian Barbu.

High-ranking officials attended the event, including EUFOR Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Tibor Szabo, and the Ambassador of Romania to BiH, Anton Păcurețu.

Recognizing his outstanding service, Barbu awarded Colonel Rus with the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy Medal for Operation Althea and the Commander's Commendation, the highest recognition awarded by the EUFOR Commander in BiH.

Barbu thanked Colonel Rus for his excellent leadership and dedication, and assured Colonel Collela of the full support of the EUFOR command team.

The Multinational Battalion is a maneuver military unit stationed at Butmir base, composed of soldiers from Albania, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, North Macedonia, and Turkey.

The unit regularly trains with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve readiness and cohesion.

"We congratulate both commanders, and we extend our best wishes to Colonel Gianfabio Collela as he assumes leadership of this dynamic multinational force," stated EUFOR.