EU and BiH initial agreement on operational activities of Frontex

Representatives of the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 2024 initialled an agreement that will allow the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, at the request of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to deploy its Standing Corps Officers with executive powers to support the country’s authorities in their border management operations.

Henrik Nielsen, Director for Schengen, Borders, and Visa at the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, DG HOME, and Mirko Kupresakovic, Head of the BiH Negotiating Team and the Director of BiH Border Police, initialled the agreement in presence of Luigi Soreca, Head of EU Delegation and EU Special Representative, and Nenad Nesic, Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador Soreca noted that this agreement speaks of partnership and a shared commitment of BiH and EU to enhance security, stability, and cooperation in this critical area throughout Europe.

“We have a collective responsibility to address the challenges of managing irregular migratory flows in Europe and tackling migrant smuggling. The deployment of Frontex in BiH is a crucial step towards addressing these challenges. With their expertise and resources, Frontex will provide vital support in reinforcing border management practices, improving cooperation among law enforcement agencies, and enhancing their overall response capacity. This collaboration will also ensure that the rights and dignity of every person crossing these borders is respected”, said Ambassador Soreca.

After Bosnia and Herzegovina established full cooperation with EUROPOL last year and signed an agreement with the European Commission in October this year on cooperation with Eurojust, the initialling of the Status Agreement on Frontex is another step forward in law enforcement and judicial cooperation with the EU.

“Only through mutual respect and responsibility to all, can we reach agreements in the interest of all citizens. The initialling of the Agreement with Frontex is more than just a technical formality. It is a symbol of our readiness to cooperate, negotiate and take concrete steps towards a better future for all citizens of BiH. The citizens of BiH will benefit from greater security of people and property, while our country will demonstrate that it is a responsible and reliable partner to the European Union and the rest of the Western Balkans. By joining the countries of the region that have already signed similar agreements, BiH confirms that it is an important part of European efforts for stability and security. Let today be a reminder to us that the greatest victories are achieved when we talk, listen to each other and seek solutions through agreement and compromise. Agreements build BiH, while the lack of them destroys it. This is a step forward in building our country through dialogue and mutual respect," said Minister Nešić.

Cooperation with Frontex will allow support to BiH in dealing with continuous migratory pressure in the Western Balkans. This agreement will enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to request the deployment of the European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps with executive powers, under the command and control of BiH authorities, to perform border management tasks. Joint operations may also include the deployment of vehicles, document readers or other relevant equipment.