EU police mission leaves Bosnia-Herzegovina

Source: Beta

BRUSSELS -- EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUPM) has completed its support “to the rule of law in the country,” the European Commission (EC) has stated.

EUPM was initially launched on January 1, 2003 and according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton “it has in many respects contributed to shaping our common security and defense policy and the EU's role as a security provider”.
“The completion of EUPM reflects the progress achieved by Bosnia-Herzegovina in strengthening the rule of law,” Ashton pointed out, adding that EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen would “support further improvements and accompany Bosnia-Herzegovina on its path towards EU accession”.

“EUPM worked as part of the broader EU rule of law approach in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in the region, supporting relevant law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in the fight against organized crime and corruption, in enhancing the interaction between police and prosecutors and in fostering regional and international cooperation,” she added.

According to the EC data, more than 2,300 police officers and international experts of various professional backgrounds from all 27 EU member states and other countries participated in EUPM over the last decade.