The European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has emphasised the importance of the Status Agreement with Frontex, stating that migration management is a shared priority for the EU and BiH. Ferdinand Koenig, spokesperson for the EU Delegation, noted that as a candidate country for EU membership, Bosnia is expected to align its migration policies and legislation with EU standards.

The agreement, once signed, will enable Frontex, the EU’s Border and Coast Guard Agency, to provide greater support to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities, enhancing border security and addressing migration challenges in the Western Balkans. It will also allow Bosnia to request the deployment of permanent Frontex forces equipped with executive powers, as well as resources such as vehicles and document scanners for joint operations.

Bosnia’s Minister of Security has informed the European Commission that negotiations on the agreement have been successfully concluded. Both the EU and Bosnia will now need to authorise signatories to finalise the agreement according to their respective procedures.

The EU Delegation highlighted that signing the agreement would mark a significant step forward for Bosnia on its EU integration path and strengthen cross-border cooperation in justice and internal affairs. Recent advancements in this area include Bosnia’s cooperation agreements with Europol and Eurojust, both seen as milestones in aligning with EU practices.

Bosnia has also adopted a Migration and Asylum Strategy with an accompanying Action Plan, demonstrating efforts to manage migration effectively and humanely. However, the implementation of this strategy faces challenges due to a lack of adequate financial resources.

The EU Delegation reiterated its support for Bosnia in these efforts, underscoring the benefits the Frontex agreement would bring to the country and the broader region.