News item | 25-04-2025 | 15:30
The Council of Ministers has decided that from October 2025 the Netherlands will contribute to the European force of Eupor Althea for 1 year with an infantry company of a maximum of 175 soldiers. In addition, the cabinet extends the current article 100 deployment to the mission up to and including December 2027, including staffing functions at the headquarters of the operation in Sarajevo. Foreign Minister Veldkamp and Defense Minister Veldkamp report this in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The main reason for the Netherlands to contribute to Eupor Althea is to promote safety and stability in the Western Balkans. In Bosnia and Herzegovina there has been tension between different ethnic population groups for a long time, which have been increasing again in recent years. The war history and the constant influence and disinformation from, among others, Russia, makes Bosnia and Herzegovina vulnerable. It is in the interest of the Netherlands and the EU to prevent instability to the external borders of the EU, also for tackling organized crime and irregular migration.
The primary objective of Operation Eupor Althea is to monitor safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dutch infantry unit will be part of the multinational battalion of Eupor Althea that has the following tasks: performing patrols throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, taking care of Force Protection by Eupor Althea, acting as Quick Reaction Force and support combined training sessions with the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With this contribution to Eupor Althea, the cabinet gives substance to the ambition as expressed in the government program to contribute to safety and stability in important regions in the broader neighboring region, partly through international missions outside the NATO and EU territory. Moreover, this commitment fits in with the aim of preventing the growing influence of Russia in this region, among others. The Netherlands also shows itself a reliable partner within NATO and the European Union, who is willing to take responsibility for safety on the European continent.
From October 2023 to October 2024, the Netherlands also supplied an infantry company to Eupor Althea.