Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is launching its first full operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting a new chapter of cooperation in the Western Balkans. Over 100 Frontex officers from across Europe will soon work side by side with border guards from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the country’s borders.
The joint teams will help strengthen border management, tackle cross-border crime and improve the exchange of information, all while ensuring that every activity fully respects fundamental rights. The operation also brings extra equipment, training and European expertise to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its daily work on the border.
The launch follows several years of preparation and close partnership between Frontex and the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During his visit, Executive Director Leijtens met the Minister of Security, the Director of the Border Police, and EU representatives to discuss how joint efforts can further strengthen security and cooperation across the region.
Executive Director Leijtens attended a ceremony in Sarajevo marking the beginning of Frontex’s operational presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Deputy Minister of Security, Mr Ivica Bošnjak.
Director Leijtens also met with Borjana Krišto, Chair of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and spoke to Frontex officers working alongside national counterparts.
Frontex already supports border management beyond the EU in Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, working closely with national authorities to fight cross-border crime and help manage migration in a way that is both effective and humane. The new operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina expands this regional cooperation even further.
Background
A Status agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina provides the legal framework for Frontex to deploy members of its Standing Corps and conduct joint operations on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina under host-state command.
The visit marked the practical start of this cooperation phase, moving from preparation and capacity-building to deployment on the ground. Bosnia and Herzegovina became the fifth Western Balkan partner where Frontex operates under such a legal framework, alongside Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, strengthening the Agency’s regional operational coverage.
This step builds on years of cooperation that already included joint risk analysis, training and situational-awareness exchanges, as well as expert support to national capacities, now made visible and operational through deployment in the field.
More information: Frontex
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