EUFOR maintains a military footprint in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can be rapidly expanded in both size and strength to address any challenge towards the safe and secure environment, Major General Reinhard Trischak, the European Union Force (EUFOR) commander in Bosnia said marking the beginning of a military exercise in the Camp Butmir near Sarajevo on Sunday.

The Quick Response, which sees its 19th edition, is a large scale exercise demonstrating the EU’s resolve and commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Quick Response is the longstanding annual test of EUFOR’s capability to rapidly reinforce its troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina with part of its reserve forces which are held at high-readiness in partner nations.

“The fact that we have on parade the Intermediate Reserve Forces from the United Kingdom and Austria, demonstrates that this process works,” said the EUFOR Commander addressing the troops.

Major General Trischak also praised the excellent relationships EUFOR has with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia's Law Enforcement Agencies and the respective ministries, publicly thanking the authorities at all levels for the cooperation EUFOR received throughout the planning process.

The EUFOR reserve troops which have arrived from Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, the United Kingdom and KFOR joined their comrades from EUFOR’s Multinational Battalion on parade before heading off to locations all over the country for the exercise, which will take place from October 7 through October 11.

EUFOR Operation Althea is currently made up of soldiers from 20 nations. Its primary role is to support the country's efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment, whilst providing support to the overall EU comprehensive strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The EUFOR is a military deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina in charge of overseeing the military implementation of the Dayton Agreement, a peace treaty which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war.