MEPs visit EUFOR Althea, assess stable but fragile security situation in Bosnia

During their visit on 24 to 27 February, MEPs stressed the need for the EU to increase its focus on the country, to remain committed to the region and its people, and to stay engaged, in particular in the context of uncertainties surrounding the engagement of the U.S. in BiH and the wider region. The security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and of the Western Balkans as a whole is of paramount importance for the security of the EU. MEPs inspected the EU’s military operation EUFOR Althea and were impressed by its professionalism and deep commitment. They received positive feedback on the important role EUFOR Althea plays in contributing to a safe and secure environment for the citizens of BiH. They concluded that EUFOR Althea could be more effective in implementing its mandate if it was provided with additional resources to reassure citizens throughout the country. MEPs expressed their gratitude to the men and women serving on behalf of the EU, and also expressed support for the multi-ethnic BiH Armed Forces. In the current geopolitical context and against the backdrop of increasing malign foreign interference, particularly by Russia and China, MEPs stressed that greater attention is also needed to monitor and address hybrid threats, including disinformation and cybersecurity. Furthermore, in line with the European Partliament's overall support for BiH, MEPs underlined that EU accession negotiations represents an opportunity and an obligation for BiH’s elected...