European Union Police Mission I and II (EUPM)
- Duration
- 11 January 2003 - to date
- Military personnel
- 182
- Fatalities
- none
- Decorations
- none
The General Council of the European Union decided on 18 February 2002 to extend the United Nations International Police Task Force (UNIPTF) as the European Union Police Mission as from 1 January 2003.
The aim of the mission was to support the Bosnian police force in performing their duties in accordance with European standards. Unlike the UNIPTF, the EUPM did not have an executive task and performed its activities unarmed. It was the 1st police mission for the EU involving the participation of both civilian and military police officials. The mission numbered some 515 people, as well as several 100 locally-engaged staff members.
Police reforms
At the end of 2005, the main Bosnian parties signed a political agreement regarding future police reforms. The European Union decided to entrust the supervision of the implementation of these reforms to a much smaller police mission than the EUPM I: EUPM II (approximately 200 people). EUPM II worked more closely with local and international organisations than its predecessor had done, which meant that the Special Representative of the European Union had a greater coordinating role. Another main focus for EUPM II was the combating of organised crime.