Today, the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina are strengthening their cooperation on migration and border management by signing a new Status agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This agreement allows Frontex to conduct joint operations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and deploy its standing corps along the countrys borders, including those with non-EU neighboring countries, and at border crossing points such as airports.
Enhancing cooperation on border management is a key aspect of the EUs engagement with Western Balkan partners, aimed at preventing irregular border crossings and boosting regional security. These joint efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in irregular border crossings, decreasing 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.
This agreement fulfills the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans from December 2022. Its implementation is ongoing, in close collaboration with Western Balkan partners, showing positive results by reducing migratory pressure and secondary movements along the Western Balkans route.
The agreement was signed today by Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto.
Next steps
The Frontex status agreement will come 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.
Background
Frontex has been advising Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2009, based on a Working Arrangement between Frontex and the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Officers from the standing corps are currently deployed at Sarajevo Airport under the 2009 framework.
Todays new status agreement is the sixth agreement based on Frontexs reinforced mandate from 2019. The first was signed with Moldova in March 2022, the second with North Macedonia in October 2022, then Montenegro in May 2023, Albania in September 2023 and Serbia in June 2024.
Individual operations conducted under this agreement are negotiated directly between Frontex and the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Any Frontex deployment outside the Union requires a request from the host country and the subsequent conclusion of an operational plan between the agency and its national counterpart.
Frontex has nearly 500 officers in the Western Balkans and ongoing joint operations in Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The EU supports Western Balkan partners with training, as well as the deployment of border officials and equipment through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), in coordination with Member States bilateral actions and based on the needs identified by the Western Balkan authorities.
For more information