—— Forwarded message ———
De : Nidzara nidzara.ah@gmail.com
*EU Donates Equipment to Support BiH Border Police in Fight Against Migrant
Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings*
The European Union, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, handed over
specialised equipment to the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed
at strengthening the operational preparedness of officers and improving
border management capacities. The handover that took place on 27 April 2026
in Sarajevo included equipment package of specialised magnifiers for
document examination, heartbeat detectors to identify persons concealed in
hidden compartments of trucks and other vehicles – situations that often
involve inhumane conditions and life-threatening risks – and a patrol boat
to respond to incidents on rivers, including search and rescue operations
in cases where migrants attempt dangerous crossings and risk drowning.
The handover forms part of a broader capacity-building package combining
specialised equipment and training, with a total investment of around
200,000 euro, under the EU4FAST project.
“Effective border management today requires modern technology, skilled
personnel, and strong institutions, and this support is designed to
contribute to all three aspects. This handover demonstrates the European
Union’s practical and tangible support, together with Member States under
the Team Europe approach, to Bosnia and Herzegovina in addressing the
challenges of migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings and border
management overall. Strengthening the capacities of the Border Police also
directly contributes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s alignment with EU
standards, notably under Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU accession process.
The EU remains committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on its
European path, through reforms that strengthen security, rule of law and
regional cooperation. It is moreover important that BiH updates its
contingency plans and is prepared in case of increased irregular
migration,” said Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of EU Delegation and EU
Special Representative in BiH.
The director of the BiH Border Police Mirko Kuprešaković emphasised the
importance of the donated boat for the work of the officers in the field.
“Modern equipment enables a faster, more efficient and safer response of
our officers to all the challenges they continuously encounter in their
daily work. This support comes at the right time, when security challenges
are increasingly complex, and the need for modernization and strengthening
the capacities of institutions is increasingly evident. I would like to
express my sincere gratitude to the European Union, the embassies of the
Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands, as well as
all partners who participated in the implementation of the EU4FAST project.
I would especially like to emphasize the significant support of Frontex to
the BiH Border Police, which contributes to strengthening our operational
capacities and work efficiency. Your support and trust further motivate us
to continue building a professional, modern and efficient BiH Border
Police,” Kuprešaković said.
“Germany is proud to contribute to this joint effort, combining national
expertise with European resources to deliver concrete and sustainable
results under the Team Europe approach. In particular, the engagement of
GIZ and the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) reflects GER’s commitment
to sharing practical experience and operational know-how with partner
countries form the WEB region, especially with BiH. Just last week, we had
a good example of what this means in practice: experts from the German
Federal Police conducted a specialized training for Border Police officers
from here. The main focus was on document examination and the use of
heartbeat detectors, directly linking equipment with operational skills.
Next week the training will be repeated for another group of trainees and I
am delighted that we established this practical and successful
cooperation,” said German Ambassador to BiH Alfred Grannas.
“Today’s handover is not about a single delivery of equipment. It reflects
a sustained partnership built over years of cooperation, trust, and shared
responsibility. What we are witnessing today is the result of continuous
joint efforts to strengthen capacities and respond to evolving challenges
at the border. Our cooperation is strategic and forward-looking. We build
on what works, we learn from experience, and we invest where it makes a
real difference. Each contribution is designed to reinforce previous
efforts, ensuring continuity, coherence, and measurable results,” said Oliver
Janser (EU4FAST)
The support is provided under the EU4FAST project, a regional initiative
supporting the fight against trafficking in human beings and migrant
smuggling across the Western Balkans worth over 50 million EUR. The project
is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Italian Ministry of the Interior,
and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is implemented by a
Consortium of implementing partners, led by the GIZ.
Nidžara Ahmetašević
*+ 387 (0) 61 49*3 708 (Viber, Signal and Whatsapp)
*Author “**The Media as a Tool of International Intervention:
of Cards
Routledge.*
https://authors.taylorandfrancis.com/dashboard/
https://www.clippings.me/nidzara https://www.clippings.me/nidzara
https://muckrack.com/nidzara-ahmetasevic-1
Instagram @nidzaraah
Twitter @AhNidzara