Security Council extends European force in Bosnia and Herzegovina for another year

The Security Council today gave a year-long extension to the European Union stabilization force (EUFOR) that is tasked with ensuring the continued compliance of all sides with the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that ended fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Council members voted unanimously early this evening to extend the mandate of EUFOR, which assumed peacekeeping responsibilities in 2004 when it took over from a NATO-led stabilization force.

The resolution also welcomed the decision of NATO to maintain a headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina so that the bloc can work with EUFOR to help implement the peace agreement.

The 15-member body authorized Member States to take all measures to defend the EUFOR and NATO presence and to assist both organizations in carrying out their missions. It also recognized the right of both EUFOR and the NATO presence to defend themselves from attack or threat of attack.

In addition, the Council reiterated that “the primary responsibility for the further successful implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves,” and underlined the need for their full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and for strengthening joint institutions.