site.btaEU Strengthens Cooperation on Migration, Border Management with Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthened migration and border management cooperation by signing a new Status agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday. It will allow Frontex to carry out joint operations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and deploy its standing corps anywhere along the country's borders, including on the borders with neighbouring non-EU countries, as well as at border crossing points including airports, a press release by the European Commission reads.

The agreement was signed by Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Kristo. It will enter into force following the consent of the European Parliament and the Council as well as the national ratification procedure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The status agreement will be provisionally applicable from the moment of signature.

Stepping up the cooperation on border management is a key element of the EU's engagement with Western Balkan partners, preventing irregular border crossings and strengthening the security of the region. These joint efforts have led to a significant decrease in irregular border crossings, from 145,600 in 2022 to 21,520 in 2024. This downward trend continues in 2025, with a further 58% drop in the first four months.

The new status agreement is the sixth agreement based on the reinforced 2019 mandate of Frontex. The first was signed with Moldova in March 2022, the second was signed with North Macedonia in October 2022, then Montenegro in May 2023, Albania in September 2023 and Serbia in June 2024.