Romanian soldiers take over command of two European Union missions

Major General Florin Barbu will take over, in the last decade of January, the command of EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Thus, Romania will simultaneously command two out of the nine operations and military missions conducted under the aegis of the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) to which it contributes troops and military equipment.

In order to further support the joint efforts made in the operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Romanian Armed Forces additionally deployed, starting January 8th, the "Dacian Pumas" Detachment, consisting of approximately 100 soldiers and 4 IAR-330 Airlift, Reconnaissance and MEDEVAC Helicopters. With approximately 500 soldiers, Romania is the most important troop contributor to this theater of operations.

The European Union EUFOR ALTHEA Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was launched in December 2004, based on the UN Security Council mandate (UN Resolution No. 1575/2004). The main goals of the mission are the support of the European Union's overall strategy for BiH, the provision of a safe and stable environment, especially by supporting the public authorities and the combined and collective training of this country’s armed forces.

Over a thousand soldiers from 24 contributing states (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Turkey and Hungary) participate in EUFOR ALTHEA Operation, which Romania will command for a one-year period.

Romania also holds the command of the European Union Training Mission Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), through Brigadier General Nicolae Gabriel Oros, who also took over this position from a Romanian officer, Brigadier General Cornel Tonea Bălan.

Established in April 2016, EUTM RCA provides strategic advice and educational support to the Central African security forces. The approximately 60 Romanian soldiers participating in the EUTM RCA, alongside representatives of international institutions, take part in the training process of the host country’s soldiers, through advisory activities conducted at strategic level and by planning, organizing, and respectively managing military career and education courses for officers, non-commissioned officers and specialists.

By undertaking command responsibilities for the two operational commitments of the European Union, our country reaffirms its contribution to maintaining regional and global security.

The Press Office