Summary: December 27, 2002: Remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for CFSP, on the start of the European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Brussels)
In the context of the final preparations for the launch of the EU Police Mission on 1 January 2003, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, made the following remarks:
"In a few days, on 1 January 2003, the new European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina starts. It will be the first operation we launch under the European Security and Defence Policy.
It is meant to assist and support the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. What will matter will be their success in the area of policing. But for us, it is not without some emotion that we will see for the first time our European colours adorn the national uniforms of our police officers in a mission on the ground. It is a strong symbol of the collective will of Europeans to act jointly in this key task of consolidating stability and security in our continent.
I would like to pay tribute to the United Nations for their achievements in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the International Police Task Force (IPTF), from which EUPM follows on, and to thank them for the seamless transition we have ensured between our two organisations.
I also want to thank the more than thirty countries, EU Member States and partners, which are contributing personnel to the mission, which will comprise some five hundred police officers. Finally I would like to thank the EUPM Planning Team for the work which they have done since last spring and which makes it possible to be ready on "D day".
The European Union is proud further to enhance in this way its commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a long-term commitment, and a real partnership with the authorities and the people of the country.
Together with the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and with the Head of EUPM, Sven Frederiksen, we will do our utmost to make this mission a success for the benefit of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina."
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Attachment: EUPM Overview
Note: more information on EUPM can be found on the Internet site of the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU: http://ue.eu.int/eupm/homePage.html
EUPM OVERVIEW
20 December
The European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM) will begin operations on 01 January 2003. It will build on the successes and accomplishments of IPTF (UN International Police Task Force)'s efforts over the past 7 years. Its mission is to help the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities develop local police forces that meet the highest European and international standards and to ensure that sustainable institutional structures are in place by the end of its mandate on 31 December
2005. The EUPM will do this through monitoring, mentoring and inspecting BiH police managerial and operational capacities. The EUPM has no executive powers.
On 4 March 2002, the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina invited the European Union to undertake its police mission. On 11 March 2002, the General Affairs Council established the EUPM. Furthermore, on the same date, the Council of the EU appointed police commander Sven Frederiksen as Police Commissioner for the EUPM.
The agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the activities of the European Union Police Mission in BiH was signed on 04 October 2002. The EUPM action is based on an agreement with the BiH authorities, by which the local authorities have committed themselves to cooperating fully in pursuit of the EUPM objectives.
The European Union Police Mission will be the first civilan crisis management operation under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). It will add an important component to other European programmes, such as institution building and reconstruction, working towards achievement of the Union's overall policy in the region. The aspirations of BiH to be integrated into the EU should be accompanied by a strong commitment of the BiH authorities to support the accomplishment of the EUPM
objectives.
The Mission will be conducted following the principle of intensive presence and co-location of international police and civilian experts alongside mid and senior level BiH police officials in police institutions and Ministries, at State, Entity, Canton/PSC (Public Security Centre) and Brcko District level. The headquarters in Sarajevo will control and administer the mission.
The EU Police Mission will be an integral part and a key element of the OHR (Office of the High Representative) Rule of Law Pillar. It will be the lead agency in BiH in all matters concerning law enforcement issues. The EUPM will be able to remove from office non-compliant officers, whose performance and behaviour does not fit the agreed standards, through a recommendation by the EUPM Head of Mission (HoM) - Police Commissioner to the High Representative in BiH.
EUPM, within the context of its mandate, will be responsible for assisting the development of BiH police capacities in all aspects of law enforcement. The EUPM will monitor, mentor and inspect BiH police efforts to ensure that BiH be capable of investigating and countering the full range of criminal activities, including organised crime and terrorism with a State level capability forming an effective part of the administration of justice.
The establishment of EUPM has been widely welcomed by the international community. On 28 February 2002, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) accepted the offer made by the European Union to establish the EU Police Mission from 01 January 2003. The UN Security Council Resolution 1396 welcomed the PIC decision on 05 March 2002. On 16 December, in a Presidential Statement, UN Security Council support for EUPM was reiterated.
At the moment, the EUPM is in the final stages of setting up the mission. The HQ is 70% staffed; virtually all the co-location teams have been fully deployed.
The Mission will be fully operational on 01 January 2003.
EUPM IN FACTS & FIGURES
The EU Police Mission will consist of around 900 staff members, 500 of which will be police officers, 50 International Civilian experts and more than 300 local staff*.
EUPM HQ
Under the authority of the EUPM Police Commissioner and his deputy, the EUPM is divided into three departments: Operations, Planning and Development, Administration and Support Services.
The EUPM Headquarters will consist of 185 staff members in total, with 70 police officers, 20 international civilian experts and 90 local staff.
EUPM FIELD DEPLOYMENT - CO-LOCATION STRUCTURE
The total number of staff deployed to the field is expected to be around 690 staff members, including 415 police officers, 30 international civilian experts and 240 local staff, operating at three levels:
1. State Level
The EUPM Advisory Team to the State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA), with its Main Headquarters in Sarajevo and Regional Offices in Banja Luka and Mostar, will have 25 staff members in total.
The EUPM Advisory Team to the State Border Service (SBS) will operate in Sarajevo EUPM Headquarters and in the SBS Field Offices with70 staff members.
The EUPM will also advise the Ministry of Security and Interpol.
2. Entity Level
EUPM Advisors will also support the two entities, Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska and will number around 50 police officers and 10 civilian experts at this level.
3. Cantons/Public Security Centres (PSCs)/Brcko District
EUPM will also advise at this level and personnel deployed alongside local police will include 280 police officers supported by 150 local staff members.
CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES
EU Countries (80%):
Austria - Belgium - Denmark - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - Ireland - Italy - Luxemburg - Netherlands - Portugal - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom
Non-EU Countries (20%):
Bulgaria - Canada - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Estonia - Hungary - Iceland - Latvia - Lithuania - Norway - Poland - Romania - Russia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Switzerland - Turkey - Ukraine
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