The EUFOR Althea mission is looking for a new outlet
(BRUSSELS2) Yes! Almost 20 years after the signing of the Dayton Accords, there is still a European military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the EUFOR Althea mission. Barely 600 men remaining at Camp Butmir, for a use that could not be more limited. Whether ! All the same. This allows the various ministers to visit their troops. It's not far, practical and not dangerous (except road accident). They also regularly organize football tournaments, including the "Eufor Cup". Very useful, no doubt. But not really worthy of either a military commitment, or the money spent for it: 12,5 million euros in common costs per year all the same! That is the same amount as 'EUTM Mali or EUTM Somalia and 50% more than Eunavfor Atalanta which have a completely different foundation and a completely different resonance...
A new function: the recovery of surplus weapons
In order to justify a presence, a new idea was presented by the head of the operation, the NATO DSaceur (*), Sir Richard Shirreff, at the last Political and Security Committee (COPS): to develop within EUFOR Althea has a new competence and entrusts the soldiers of Camp Butmir with the function of searching for and recovering surplus ammunition and weapons in the country, in order to provide for their disposal. A paper that arouses some skepticism. We understand it...
A mission that has no more motivation except some national interests
The Eufor Althea mission should have closed already a few years ago. Successive reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina say so in all tones. Political, social, economic and even ethnic tensions remain in the country. But nothing that justifies a permanent foreign military presence more than elsewhere. Especially at a time when the countries of the region are gradually integrating into the European panorama. Croatia joins the European Union on July 1 - a country with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has just over 900 km of common borders! The two other border countries are on the way: Montenegro is a candidate for membership and the next on the list of countries to join the EU (possibly with Iceland) while Serbia seeks to appease its differences with the Kosovo in order to be able, in turn, to take the march of European integration. The danger today comes more from the financial and banking crisis than from a military danger.
Only some states do not want this closure: the United Kingdom in particular – for whom it is the last Berlin Plus type operation – and the countries of Central Europe (Austria, Romania, Slovakia, etc.) such as Turkey – who believe that all risk has not really been ruled out, and above all who intend to maintain their presence in what has long constituted their backyard.
Comment: what a waste
today there are far more significant and important security issues than Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maintaining a force of 600 men, and consequent common costs, at a time of budgetary restrictions, is a mismanagement of which Europe no longer has the means. When we know the difficulties it took to gather the necessary manpower to ensure the "protection force" in Mali (60 men were missing!), we are in the inconsistency which borders on irresponsibility. At a time when we are talking about revising European missions, getting the best value for money from the forces paid by the European Union, this waste of human and financial resources is totally inexplicable and unjustifiable...
It is now time to draw the conclusions from certain geopolitical developments and the state of European forces. The EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina must close. A reserve force kept nearby (just in case) – why not within Eulex in Kosovo or in the barracks in Austria, Croatia or Slovenia – may be enough to respond quickly in the event of a deterioration of the situation. If there is a need to recover the weapons, it is an action first of the Bosnian State assisted if necessary by experts from the police forces, customs or justice - who can come to support the delegation of the EU in Sarajevo - which may suffice.
(*) The EUFOR Althea mission is an "old model" mission under Berlin Plus where the EU benefits from the "support" of NATO structures. The Deputy Supreme Commander for Operations in Europe is the head of operations.
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