Pendeš and Mogherini Sign Agreement on BiH Participation in EU Operations

Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marina Pendeš and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini have signed in Brussels the Agreement on Establishing a Framework for BiH Participation in EU Crisis Management Operations, reports the Patria news agency.

This agreement, as its name suggests, represents a general framework for the participation of both military and civilian personnel from Bosnia and Herzegovina in European Union crisis management operations.

The agreement does not accept explicit obligations in terms of mandatory contribution and participation of the Armed Forces of BiH, police forces or civilian representatives of BiH in crisis management operations conducted by the European Union, but its conclusion is a necessary precondition for a possible contribution and joint participation in operations.

On this occasion, Minister Pendeš stated that the conclusion of this agreement represents an important step that demonstrates the intention and readiness of Bosnia and Herzegovina to contribute to the common security and defence policy of the European Union and is a strong impetus for the integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union.

The agreement was signed as part of a two-day visit of the BiH Ministry of Defence delegation led by Minister Pendeš to Brussels, and the BiH Ministry of Defence delegation will also participate in the work of the European Defence Summit (EDS) at the invitation of the Director of the Munich Security Conference and with the support of the Government of Bavaria and the European Union, who are also the organisers of the EDS, the BiH Ministry of Defence announced.