European Union Force In Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR), Operation Althea

European Union Force In Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR), Operation Althea

The key objectives of ALTHEA- Supporting the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) collective and combined training, supporting them in their progression towards NATO standards

- To provide deterrence and continued compliance with the responsibility to fulfil the role specified in Annexes 1A and 2 of the Dayton/Paris Agreement (General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH); and

- To contribute to a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in line with its mandate, and to achieve core tasks in the OHR's Mission Implementation Plan and the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP).

The EUFOR MandateThe mandate for EUFOR’s Operation Althea is in two parts, Executive and Non-Executive. The Executive mandate is given by the UN Security Council, and the EUFOR mission is then based on the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) Joint Action which includes an Executive part derived from the UN Security Council (Supporting the BiH authorities maintain a safe and secure environment). It also includes and a Non-Executive part (Supporting AFBiH collective and combined training). This supports BiH in its progress to being a ‘security provider’ rather than a ‘security consumer’.United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1551, adopted unanimously on 9 July 2004, welcomed the EU's intention to launch a military mission in BiH. The decision by the EU to launch ALTHEA followed the decision by NATO to conclude its successful SFOR-operation.

This was followed by UNSCR 1575, adopted unanimously on 22 November 2004 which authorized the Member States, acting through or in cooperation with the EU, to establish a multinational stabilization force (EUFOR) as a legal successor to SFOR, under unified command and control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Dayton/Paris Agreement. EUFOR has the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement.The Resolution also welcomed the EU’s increasing engagement in BiH. EUFOR's mandate was extended by UNSCR 1639 (2005) on 21 November 2005.ALTHEA is carried out with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities, on the basis agreed with NATO ("Berlin Plus").

In 2012 the Operation reconfigured and changed its focus to Capacity Building and Training (CB&T) of the Armed Forces of BiH (AF BiH). It, nevertheless retained its obligations to support the BiH authorities in maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment. In 2018 the CB&T programme was successfully concluded as the AF BiH had achievedthe aim of being self sustainable in their military training.EU Political ObjectivesThe June 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration confirmed that the future of the Western Balkans is within the EU. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) is the framework for the European integration of BIH, and entered into force on the 1st of June 2005.

The EU has a comprehensive approach within BiH, focusing on Defence and Security, Development and Diplomacy. The EU focuses on reforming state level institutions, and supporting BiH to make economic progress.EUFOR’s part in the comprehensive approach is to assist in creating the conditions to deliver the long term political objective of a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic BIH, co-operating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards EU membership.The operation reinforces the EU's comprehensive approach towards BIH, and supports BIH's progress towards EU integration by its own efforts. The operation is part of the overall European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mission in BIH and of a closely coordinated EU presence in BIH.The EU Special Representative promotes overall EU political co-ordination in BIH. EU Commanders co-ordinate closely with the EUSR in BIH with a view to ensuring consistency of the EU military operation within the broader context of the EU activities in BIH.

The medal is circular, silver in colour, 35 mm in diameter and bears on the obverse the emblem of the EU, which consist of a circle of 12 stars. On the reverse appears on three lines, the Latin inscription “PRO PACE UNUM”. The European Union (EU) established this medal on 1 January 2003 to provide recognition to those who serve in EU-led crisis management operations. Awarded to military and civilian personnel who have served 30 consecutive days either in the area of operations of a designated EU-led crisis management operations or in a EU HQ in designated positions in direct support of such operations. The medal is always awarded with a bar to denote the mission for which it has been awarded.

The Medal is always to be issued with a bar representing a particular mission:

• EUPM for service with the EU Police Mission in Bosnia from 1 January 2003. Six Canadian police officers have been awarded the medal with this bar: five from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and one from the Service de Police de la Communauté Urbaine de Montréal.
• ARTEMIS for service with the European military operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 12 June and 1 September 2003. The CF sent two CC-130 Hercules with support staff in the summer of 2003 to assist this mission by providing airlift from Entebbe, Uganda, to Bunia in the DRC under the Canadian operation name CARAVAN. 53 CF members have been awarded this bar.
• CONCORDIA for service with the EU military operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia between 31 March and 15 December 2003. The CF had one staff officer, LCol J.M.R. Moreau, in the mission which had the Canadian Operation name FUSION and four other officers in the HQ positions.
• PROXIMA for service with the European Union Police Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from 15 December 2003 (no Canadian recipient to date).
• ALTHEA for service with the European Union Force (EUFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2 December 2004 to 31 May 2007. Op BOREAS was the CF contribution to this operation. Approximately 70 CF members were awarded this bar every rotation.

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