The Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), General Patrick de Rousiers, is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and HQ EUFOR Althea between 27th and 28th January 2014. General de Rousiers chairs the EU Military Committee (EUMC), which is the highest military committee within the European Council, and responsible for providing the Political and Security Committee (PSC) with advice and recommendations on all military matters affecting the EU.
On 27th January, the General first attended an office call hosted by the Commander of EUFOR, Major General Dieter Heidecker, and was briefed on the current operations and the latest developments within the European Force in BiH (EUFOR Althea), before departing Camp Butmir for a meeting with the European Union Special Representative (EUSR), Ambassador Peter Sørensen. As the PSC prepares coherent EU responses to any crisis situation and also formulates long-term strategic direction, the discussion was mainly focused on topics concerning the comprehensive approach by the European Union towards BiH.
At a separate courtesy call with the Minister of Defence, Zekerijah Osmić, and the Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH (AF BiH), Major General Anto Jeleč, the talking points included the current political situation, the current security situation, the activities of the Bosnian MoD Task Force in charge of the disposal and inventory of surplus ammunition, weapons and explosives, as well as the cooperation between EUFOR and the AF BiH during the upcoming Exercise Quick Response and the Intermediate Reserve Forces system. During the second day of his visit, General de Rousiers will visit a EUFOR Liaison and Observation Team (LOT) House and an AF BiH Ammunition Storage Site (ASS).