Additional EU troops will be deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as of next week, the commander of the EU peace forces in BiH (EUFOR), General Laszlo Sticz, said on Wednesday, adding that this was planned earlier with the aim of safeguarding a stable environment in BiH.

French troops will arrive first and stay in BiH for a month, he told the press in Sarajevo. They will be joined by Italian and Romanian troops, a total of 250 making up EUFOR's strategic reserve forces.

The capability to deploy and integrate additional troops must be tested every year so that they get acquainted with procedures and the situation on the ground, said the Hungarian general commanding 1,000 troops from 23 countries.

If the security situation in BiH deteriorates, the EUFOR contingent on the ground can count on the immediate support of 3,500 troops within the strategic reserve forces prepared to act.

The troops arriving in BiH will conduct training and patrol together with the EUFOR troops already on the ground as part of preparations for the strategic integration of reserve forces in the event of a crisis which could require military intervention.

BiH Defence Minister Zukan Helez said one infantry battalion would participate in exercises with the EUFOR troops.