(Sarajevo, 6 February 2024) - The European Union donated today to the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina ten specialized vehicles worth more than 1 million BAM. The vehicles: six pick-up vehicles, three van vehicles, and one utility vehicle for dog transportation will be used primarily for monitoring the activities of police bodies and for supporting joint operational actions in regional offices.

On behalf of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the keys to the new vehicles were handed by the Head of Operations Section for Justice and Home Affairs and Public Administration Reform Karel Lizerot to the director of the BiH Border Police Mirko Kuprešaković.

“Migration is a challenge that the EU and BiH authorities are facing together. The donation of these vehicles is part of broader EU-funded support, for Border Police BiH to help respond to challenges linked to migration. Together with national authorities, the EU is supporting the provision of adequate assistance to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees but also fighting irregular migration and fighting smuggling", said Lizerot.

The purchase of vehicles represents only one part of the European Union's support to the BiH Border Police in the amount worth more than 8 million BAM. The funds have been used for the purchase of specialized vehicles and equipment, training of border police officers, capacity building through financing accommodation and food for police officers, and paying for fuel for vehicles used by police officers in their regular activities.

"I am thankful to the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina for donating vehicles that will greatly enhance the operational efficiency and mobility of our police officers in the field. We appreciate our long-term and ongoing collaboration and assistance in building the capacity of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the donation of specialized equipment and training for our members. I am optimistic that our successful partnership will continue to the mutual satisfaction of both parties in the future," stated Kuprešaković.

The funds were allocated through the project "Special Measures to Support the Response to the Refugee and Migrant Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase III".

The European Union, through its funding, is continuously providing significant support through the procurement of equipment, capacity building, and the provision of professional assistance to various institutions and agencies responsible for managing migration flows, such as the Ministry of Security, the Service for Affairs with Foreigners, the Border Police, the Asylum Sector, and the Directorate for Coordination Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Contact us for more information:

Edita Selimbegović,

IOM Public Information Unit

eselimbegovic@iom.int