Paris, 20 June 2006 – the WEU Assembly, on Tuesday, called for the European public to be better informed about the success of the Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as proof of the progress made under the ESDP in its security and stabilisation missions.

On the basis of a report on “Public opinion and the Althea mission” prepared by Milos Budin (Italy, Socialist Group) on behalf of the Committee for Parliamentary and Public Relations, the Assembly recommended that information on European external military action and the “tangible results achieved in terms of rebuilding the civil institutions of the countries concerned” be made “clearer and more accessible to the public at large”. Launched in 2004 by the European Council, the EUFOR Althea mission currently involves 6 200 troops from 22 EU member states and 11 non-EU Troop Contributing Nations, as well as a 500-strong Integrated Police Unit (IPU) based in Sarajevo.

Submitting the report on behalf of Mr Budin (recently appointed Deputy Minister for European Affairs in the new Italian Government), Lord Burlison (United Kingdom, Socialist Group) recalled that the Althea mission, in addition to being a military success, had been “a conclusive test of the European Security and Defence Policy in action” resulting in a safe and secure environment. He reminded members that under the Althea mission, authorities also cooperated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) by conducting search operations, detaining and handing over persons indicted for war crimes.

Lord Burlison added that according to opinion polls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the people viewed the Althea mission as essential to security and stability and also a means of improved policies on education, employment, visas and ultimately of integration into the European institutions. The report stressed that the success of Althea as a military operation was to be welcomed, but needed to be followed up by efforts to explain and demonstrate the part played by this operation in stabilising the country and ensuring its acceptance of the rules of democracy. It also stated that emphasis should be placed on the key role of the European Security and Defence Policy and on the importance of security in Europe as an essential condition for political and economic progress and for successful EU enlargement.