Sarajevo – EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johann Sattler, handed over to the BiH Border Police and the State Investigation Agency and protection (SIPA) a significant donation in the form of 63 vehicles and specialized equipment, within the project "EU Support to Migration and Border Management in BiH". The event was attended by Selmo Cikotić, Minister of Security of BiH, Zoran Galic, Director of the BiH Border Police, Dalibor Milošević, Advisor to the Director for cooperation, logistics and trainings of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and Laura Lungarotti, IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Mission.

The keys to 35 vans and 12 SUVs worth over 3 million convertible marks were handed over to the BiH Border Police. Additional equipment will also be delivered to significantly strengthen the work of police officers and enable them to act faster and work more mobile in the field.

The European Union provided 16 off-road vehicles and specialized uniforms to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA). The total donation to SIPA amounts to more than 460,000 convertible marks.

Since 2018, the European Union continues to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in migration and border management in the context of the increased number of refugees and migrants present in the country since the end of 2017.

Thanks to EU assistance, temporary reception centers in BiH have been established, providing basic accommodation, food and water, sanitation, clothing and psychological counselling services, as well as access to education and health services for migrants residing in BiH. The donated funds are also used to purchase equipment and provide expert assistance to the Ministry of Security, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, Border Police and the Sector for Asylum of BiH, the Ministry of Interior of Una-Sana Canton, and other institutions and agencies.  

The project “EU Support to Migration and Border Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is funded through an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) special measure and is implemented by the IOM in partnership with UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).