EU Council Conclusions on Operation ALTHEA

EU Council Conclusions on Operation ALTHEA, 2770th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting, Brussels

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"The Council reviewed Operation ALTHEA and welcomed the positive contribution of the operation to the safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Council approved the SG/HR´s recommendations for Operation ALTHEA in the light of the advices received from relevant Council bodies and underlined the continued need for an EU military presence to provide reassurance and to react to any possible security challenges.

The security situation in BiH has evolved enough to permit the Council to decide in principle on a transition of Operation ALTHEA. The implementation should go ahead in accordance with the agreed concept for transition, subject to a definitive decision (revised OPLAN) by the Political and Security Committee set to be taken by the end of February 2007, taking into account the security situation in the country as well as the impact on that, of the regional security situation.

The decision to proceed to the subsequent steps of the transition will be taken by the Council in due time.

The EU remains committed to BiH and through its military presence will continue to contribute to the maintenance of the safe and secure environment.

The Council noted that cooperation with NATO continues to work well in respect of Operation ALTHEA, in Brussels as well as in BiH, in the context of the "Berlin Plus" arrangements."

| Arriba |

• Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU confirms decision on transition  (28/2/2007)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions (11/12/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council: Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (8/11/2006)
• EU Enlargement: Key findings of progress reports on Kosovo and potential candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia (8/11/2006)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Summary note on joint report by EUHR Solana and EU Commissioner Rehn on a Reinforced EU Presence  (17/10/2006)
• Perspectives for Bosnia and Herzegovina - Speech by EU Commissioner Rehn (15/2/2006)