Minister Helez Received EU Parliamentarians: We Are Seeking Reinforcement of EUFOR Forces

(Patria) - Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, accompanied by
the Deputy Minister of Defense of BiH for Policy and Plans Slaven Galić, received a delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defense today and requested reinforcement of EUFOR forces in BiH.

„EUFOR plays a very important role in BiH, articulated in Annexes 1A and 2 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and remains a reliable guarantor of security in this area. Considering the sensitive geopolitical situation in the world, as well as in our region, we believe it would be beneficial to strengthen EUFOR forces, especially in the important area of the Brčko District,“ Minister Helez emphasized in his conversation with members of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defense (SEDE).

EU parliamentarians are on a multi-day visit to key institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delegation of the SEDE Committee is led by Niclas Herbst from Germany, and its members include Helder Sousa Silva from Portugal, Marjan Šarec from Slovenia, and Martinš Stakis from Latvia, along with their associates.

Minister Helez and Deputy Minister Galić presented them with the key activities and priorities of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH, and Helez also spoke about BiH's efforts to meet the conditions for starting membership negotiations with the European Union. He pointed out that an agreement has been signed with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities, the Law on Border Control, and the Law on Personal Data Protection have been adopted. However, due to obstructions within the institutions, more has not been adopted so far.

„We do not have a consensus for the abolition of entity vetoes on decisions regarding the allocation of aid from state funds and the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court of BiH. The nature of these obstructions is well illustrated by the fact that the entity of Republika Srpska is seeking to introduce ethnic voting in the Constitutional Court, which is unacceptable to us,“ said Helez.

Both Helez and Galić expressed gratitude for the financial support from the European Peace Facility (EPF), through which demining capacities of the BiH Armed Forces have been enhanced with specialized vehicles and metal detectors in two tranches totaling $20 million. The need for further modernization of the BiH Armed Forces in terms of combat assets, especially regarding anti-aircraft and anti-tank capabilities, was also emphasized.

„With their capabilities and experience, the BiH Armed Forces can offer their capacities to others, especially regarding participation in peacekeeping missions. We believe we could contribute well to EU forces in peacekeeping missions wherever needed in the future,“ emphasized Deputy Minister Galić.

Speaking on behalf of the SEDE Committee delegation, MEP Niclas Herbst stated that it is a pure coincidence that this visit is taking place at a politically very sensitive moment for BiH. He emphasized that they see BiH as a full member of the EU in the future and encouraged every step in that direction.

„We are in a geopolitically very interesting time. EU member states will have to allocate much more for
their defense than we have allocated so far. We are supporting Ukraine, but we will strive not to lose focus on BiH and the region,“ said Herbst.

The SEDE Committee delegation is expected to visit the Tactical Support Brigade of the BiH Armed Forces in Rajlovac tomorrow and witness a demonstration of the capabilities of demining capacities, enhanced by a recent donation from the EPF framework.