Trust and security through cooperation – stronger law enforcement in BiH

At the Conference „EU Support to Law Enforcement“, Ambassador Peter Sørensen, Head of the EU Delegation to BiH/EUSR officially marked the start of implementation of a project that will support the law enforcement agencies to get ready to face the challenges linked to EU accession. Training, capacity building, access to data and police coordination in order to fight organised crime and corruption are the issues that will be jointly tackled under the project.

The Conference was organised by the project in cooperation with the BiH Ministry of Security and the EU Delegation to BiH. The European Union is funding this project in the amount of 7 Million EUR from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA 2010).

“The effective, transparent and accountable application of the rule of law is a pillar of the European Union’s value system. It makes citizens feel safe; it creates trust citizens in the governing institutions; it allows for a positive business climate. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs this” Ambassador Sørensen said.

The event was opened with welcome addresses from Ambassador Sorensen, Mr. Sadik Ahmetović, BiH Minister of Security, Mr. Stanislav Cađo, RS Minister of Interior and Mr. Predrag Kurteš, F BiH Minister of Interior. Addresses from implementing partners, including Dr Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Austrian Minister of Interior and Mr. Vinko Gorenak, Slovenian Minister of Interior, and a presentation of the project followed.

The project will continue until 30 April 2014. The project consortium partners include the Ministries of Interior of the Republic of Austria, Republic of Slovenia, Hungary and of the Land Brandenburg of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and Transparency International BiH (as an Associate). Beneficiary partners are BiH law enforcement agencies at state, entity, cantonal and Brčko District level.

Europa.ba