GAERC CONCLUSIONS ON WESTERN BALKANS
(March, 05, 2007)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
1. The Council welcomed the formation of the new Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It encouraged the new authorities to ensure a swift and effective implementation of all the four conditions necessary for the conclusion of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as set out in the Council conclusions of 12 December 2005. The Council reiterated its full support to Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective...
GAERC CONCLUSIONS ON WESTERN BALKANS
(March, 05, 2007)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
1. The Council welcomed the formation of the new Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It encouraged the new authorities to ensure a swift and effective implementation of all the four conditions necessary for the conclusion of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as set out in the Council conclusions of 12 December 2005. The Council reiterated its full support to Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective.
2. The Council urged the new authorities to use the current momentum to bring forward police reform.
3. The Council took note of the PIC Steering Board assessment of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region. The Council also took note of the PIC Steering Board Communiqué which aims for closure of the Office of the High Representative by 30 June 2008 with reviews of the situation in October 2007 and February 2008. The policy of ownership remains the guiding principle.
- The Council took note that the Political and Security Committee has approved the revised OPLAN for Operation ALTHEA, enabling a progressive but reversible reconfiguration of EUFOR to go ahead, taking into account the security situation in the country as well as the impact on that, of the regional security situation. As part of its overall engagement in BiH, the EU will retain a military presence in the country in order to continue contributing to the maintenance of a safe and secure environment. EUFOR will retain some 2 500 troops on the ground, backed up by over-the-horizon reserve forces, ready to respond to possible security challenges throughout the country and to provide reassurance. Cooperation with NATO in respect of Operation ALTHEA will continue.
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