Wednesday, November 21, 2007

EU FOREIGN MINISTERS EXTENDED EUPM’S MANDATE IN BOSNIA UNTIL DECEMBER 31,2009

BRUSSELS, Belgium (November 21,2007) - The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) decided to extend the mandate of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM) until December 31, 2009.

GAERC is composed of the EU Ministers Of Foreign Affairs. Since June 2002 it has held separate meetings on general affairs and external relations. At its sessions on External Relations, under the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy takes part. It also coordinates preparation for and follow–up to meetings of the European Council.

While welcoming the significant progress that the EUPM has made in developing a sustainable police service in Bosnia, the Council also recognised that the Police Mission’s aim to establish a sustainable, professional, and multiethnic Bosnian police force, which will act in line with EU standards, has not yet been achieved.

“Considering that, at the end of EUPM’s second mandate, the desired end-state will not have been fully reached the Council has decided to extend the Mission until the 31 December 2009,” the conclusion reads.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think that it is going to be a big challenge for the EU to get all the parties to agree to a uniform police, after all, we are talking about multi-ethnic parties that were at war at one point with eachother, it will be a difficult process to overcome those tensions and move on to a more postitive future. I command the EU for taking a firm stance at bringing some form of peace and stability to a region that is clearly in need.