On Monday the 20th of July a medal parade took place awarding 177 members of EUFOR with their European Union Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal Operation Althea. The medal recognizes military personnel who have worked within EUFOR. COM EUFOR Major General Johan Luif presented medals during the ceremony and addressed the recipients.
International participation
For the first time, COM NATO HQ Sarajevo Brigadier General Giselle Wilz watched the medal ceremony, which included members from six troop contributing nations. In particular a large number of Austrian soldiers from the Multinational Battalion received decorations. Speaking during the ceremony, Major General Luif said,
‘Each one of you represents a practical and positive affirmation of support from your governments to EUFOR and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina’
Continued commitment
During his speech Major General Luif also discussed EUFOR’s role during the previous year, and thanked the personnel present for their work in Capacity Building and Training for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the main effort of EUFOR.