EU Ambassador Soreca visits FRONTEX officers deployed at Bijaca Border Crossing

EU Ambassador Soreca visits FRONTEX officers deployed at Bijaca Border Crossing

The Head of the European Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, visited the Bijaca International Border Crossing together with the Deputy Minister of Security, Ivica Bošnjak, and Director of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mirko Kupresakovic. The visit focused on the ongoing cooperation between the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina and FRONTEX in the field of integrated border management and security following the deployment of officers from FRONTEX's Standing Corps last year.

During the visit, Ambassador Soreca met with members of the FRONTEX contingent currently deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was briefed on their operational activities, including border surveillance, detection of document fraud and joint operations with the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The deployment of FRONTEX officers to Bosnia and Herzegovina marks an important step forward in strengthening border management and security. Since November 2025, their presence on the ground has already brought valuable expertise and equipment to support border surveillance, border checks and the detection of fraudulent documents. Cooperation between FRONTEX and the Border Police of BiH is positive and professional, with strong dedication to our common objectives under the Operational Plan. FRONTEX has the potential to assist in every aspect of the implementation of Integrated Border Management policy in BiH and we are happy to see this cooperation continue," said Ambassador Soreca.

"Today, operational cooperation between the security agencies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union is at a high level, especially in the area of ​​border control, suppression of illegal migration and the fight against cross-border crime. Our members of the BiH Border Police stand side by side with members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), which represents a significant step forward in the process of European integration and our contribution to collective European security. The Ministry of Security and the Border Police of BiH remain firmly committed to further partnership with European institutions, with the strong support of the European Union in equipment and strengthening transfer of knowledge, in order to respond even more effectively to regional and global security threats," said Bosnjak.

Director Kupresakovic said that the cooperation of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Frontex and the institutions of the European Union represents one of the key priorities the work and strategic development of the border management system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The European Union remains our strategic partner in the process of improving the capacities of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through various projects, equipment donations, expert assistance, we are further strengthening professional standards, interoperability and compliance with European border management practices. I am grateful to Frontex and the institutions of the European Union for the support they provide to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our goal is clear - a secure and effectively controlled border that enables the legal movement of people and goods, protects the security of citizens and contributes to regional stability. Cooperation with Frontex and the European Union is not only an operational issue, but also a strong message of Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to the European path", Kupresakovic said.

The deployment of FRONTEX in Bosnia and Herzegovina officially began in November 2025 following the agreement on the Operational Plan. By the end of last year, around 80 officers had been deployed, with gradual expansion towards full operational capacity of 116 officers. FRONTEX officers are supporting local authorities in border checks and surveillance, contributing expertise in document fraud detection, risk analysis and implementation of the Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept. They also provide access to EU systems and tools, strengthening operational effectiveness and interoperability.

During the visit, Ambassador Soreca underlined the importance of continued cooperation and full implementation of the Integrated Border Management strategy, including the establishment of the National Coordination Centre and further development of risk analysis and inter-agency cooperation mechanisms.

The EU remains committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening border security, combating irregular migration and cross-border crime as well as aligning its border management system with European standards. Effective border management helps increase European security and is also an essential element of Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards European Union membership.