The European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina have signed an agreement allowing the EU border agency Frontex to operate on Bosnian territory in a joint effort to stem irregular migration into the bloc, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The deal enables Frontex to deploy border guards to Bosnia’s borders and airports, boosting the country’s capacity to control its nearly 1,000-kilometre border with EU member Croatia. Bosnia lies on a key route used by migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach Western Europe via the Western Balkans.
“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,” the Commission said in a statement.
The agreement must still be ratified by the European Parliament and Bosnia’s parliamentary assembly. However, under the terms of the deal, it can be provisionally applied, allowing Frontex personnel to begin operations within weeks.
Frontex has previously signed similar agreements with several Western Balkan countries as part of the EU’s broader strategy to reduce irregular migration flows along the so-called Balkan route.
In a related development, the United Kingdom has initiated talks with several Balkan governments to explore cooperation on curbing migration to its shores, British officials have said. The UK, which formally exited the EU in 2020, is not part of EU-led migration initiatives but has sought separate bilateral agreements in the region.
The EU has made migration control a priority in its relations with Western Balkan states, offering financial and political incentives in exchange for closer cooperation on border management and asylum policies.