Europe stands with Bosnia and Herzegovina – the first teams under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism arrive

Following Bosnia and Herzegovina's official request to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM) on the evening of 5 October 2024, teams of rescuers and supplies have begun to arrive in the country.

The European Emergency Response Centre (ERCC), within DG ECHO of the European Commission, which is coordinating the assistance effort under the EUPCM, has confirmed that rescue teams sent by Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia are already in Jablanica or about to arrive and at least 9 member countries of the EUCPM (Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Türkiye) have offered assistance or are sending supplies. An ERCC officer is now in Sarajevo to coordinate the EUCPM teams on the ground and to liaise with relevant BiH authorities, supported by the EU Delegation to BiH.

When the EUCPM is triggered, the ERCC plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response, contributing to at least 75% of the transport and/or operational costs of deployments, irrespective of whether a country is a member of the EU or not. The EUCPM thus represents a unique solidarity mechanism bringing together the member states of the EU as well as 10 participating member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine).

Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the EUCPM in September 2022. This is the first time that Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested assistance through the EUCPM. Since becoming a full member, rescue teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina have participated in emergency response operations under EUCPM in Türkiye and Slovenia.