The Council of the European Union adopted five assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lebanon, and Mauritania and in support to the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force in Mozambique on Thursday.

The new assistance measures “increase the EU's ongoing support to partner countries in Africa, the Eastern Partnership, and the Western Balkans, and expands the European Peace Facility's geographical outreach to the Southern Neighbourhood,” a statement said.

“The European Peace Facility continues to show its flexibility and effectiveness in responding to our partners’ needs. Today, we have adopted five new assistance measures to support Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania and the Rwandan deployment to Mozambique,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

The Council adopted an assistance measure worth €10 million to the benefit of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH), which is “part of the EU’s work to further strengthen its security engagement with its Western Balkan partners.”

“The EPF assistance measure will strengthen the capacities of the AFBiH by enhancing and upgrading the equipment of its tactical support brigade. Through the provision of appropriate equipment, the assistance measure will also help them to contribute to EU military CSDP missions and operations. It will further allow the swift and sustainable deployment of the NATO-designated battalion, whether as part of an EU CSDP mission or operation or under formats such as the United Nations, NATO, or the OSCE, and ultimately contribute to the protection of the civilian population,” the statement said.

The assistance measure will finance field equipment, key tools for military engineering and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) materiel.

The assistance was requested by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2022.