Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s): Ana E. Juncos
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Security and defense, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Penal Policy
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: Police mission; Bosnia and Herzegovina; EUPM; European Union;
Summary/Abstract: In the last few years, the European Union has used Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a ‘laboratory’ to test its crisis management capabilities. In 2003, the EU launched its first ever Police Mission (EUPM) in BiH. Taking overfrom the UN’s International Police Task Force in Bosnia, the EUPM aimed at supporting the reform of the Bosnian police forces in order to establish sustainable police arrangements according to best European and international standards. Yet two main kinds of obstacles have prevented the EUPM from accomplishing its mandate. First are the external factors stemming from the unsettled political situation in BiH. Second are the internal factors such as the inexperience of the EU in the field of civilian crisis management, the fragmentation of the EU’s presenceon the ground, the complexity of the EU’s policy-making structures and the lack of resources. This contribution examines in detail the coherence and effectiveness ofthe EUPM during the first three years of its mandate.

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