SARAJEVO – The first contingent of one hundred police officers from EU member countries has arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to support Frontex operations aimed at enhancing border protection, preventing illegal migration, and addressing cross-border crime. Their mission was officially launched on Friday, with attendance from EU officials and local leaders.
During an event in Sarajevo, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, listened as Frontex Executive Director, Hans Leijtens, emphasized the agency’s commitment to securing European borders and extending assistance to countries in the Western Balkans.
“We have approximately 3,500 officers, over 600 of whom are stationed in the Western Balkans. In BiH, Frontex personnel from various European nations, including Latvia, Belgium, and Portugal, will be present. Our objective is to aid BiH in safeguarding its borders,” stated Leijtens.
Frontex officers will engage in joint patrols with BiH’s Border Police and contribute to surveillance operations at land border crossings and airports.
They are restricted from independent operations and will collaborate closely with BiH border police, adhering to the country’s laws and international norms.
The formal agreement for Frontex’s participation in BiH was established in June this year, building on successful collaborations with other Western Balkan nations and Moldova.
This initiative is believed to have significantly decreased the number of illegal migrants trying to enter EU member states via the region.
In 2022, over 140,000 instances were reported, which plummeted to just above 21,000 two years later. (October 31, 2025)
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