The European Union donated specialized vehicles worth 790,000 KM to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton, which further strengthens their capacities to deal with irregular migration, the fight against migrant smuggling and organized crime. The donation includes eight vehicles, two transport vans and two off-road vehicles.
The equipment was officially handed over today, during a visit to the Federal Ministry of the Interior of BiH and the Ministry of the Interior of the Sarajevo Canton, by Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was also attended by Michael JF O’Mahony, Deputy Head of the IOM Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which supported the procurement process.
“Border security and migration management are joint priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. The European Union has consistently supported Bosnia and Herzegovina for years in strengthening its capacity for migration management and border security. Today’s donation builds on that partnership and will help law enforcement authorities to responsibly manage irregular migration and effectively respond to cross-border organized crime, while simultaneously improving the safety of citizens. The European Union remains fully committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting EU standards and progressing on its path to membership in the European Union,” he said. is the ambassador of Sorec.
Donated vehicles will improve the mobility and operational readiness of police services, enable more efficient work in the field, transport of personnel and equipment, and access to remote and hard-to-reach areas. Strengthened capacities will contribute to better prevention, detection and response to irregular migration, migrant smuggling and other forms of organized crime, and improve internal security in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the overall security of citizens and local communities.
“The Federal Police Administration is continuously working to strengthen its capacities in order to effectively respond to increasingly complex security challenges, including the suppression of illegal migration, migrant smuggling and organized crime. The donated vehicles will significantly improve our mobility and operational readiness in the field, especially in demanding and hard-to-reach areas. This support from the European Union represents a valuable contribution to strengthening the security system of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and confirms the successful cooperation of domestic institutions and international partners. By investing in equipment and developing the capacities of police bodies, preconditions are created for more effective protection of citizens, preservation of public safety and a more successful fight against all forms of organized crime”, said the director of the Federal Police Administration, Igor Marić.
“The police administration of the KS MUP continuously works to improve its capacities, both human and material-technical, with the aim of a more efficient and effective response to the smuggling of migrants, illegal migration and all other forms of crime that, as a rule, accompany these activities. This donation and the development of partnership relations will certainly contribute to our work and the overall safety of the citizens of Sarajevo Canton and BiH”, said the Head of the Uniformed Police Sector, Chief Inspector, Salih Tufo.
The donation is part of the project funded by the European Union “Individual measure to strengthen border management capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, which supports the country’s efforts in strengthening integrated border management and improving migration and security management in accordance with European standards and with full respect for fundamental rights.
The European Union remains a key partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the areas of migration management, border signposting and the rule of law, providing continuous support to institutions responsible for ensuring security and protecting the rights and dignity of all people.
