31/10/2025

A Partnership Agreement (Affiliated Membership) between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM) was signed today by the Executive Director of FRONTEX, Mr Hans Leijtens, and the Director of our Agency, Mr Marko Vujević.

This officially confirms the cooperation between AEPTM and FRONTEX, which began in 2019, when the curricula of the basic training programme for the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina cadets were first aligned with the 2017 FRONTEX Common Core Curriculum (CCC) and practically implemented. Further harmonisation with the 2022 FRONTEX curricula followed. According to the FRONTEX-aligned curricula, a total of 511 Border Police cadets of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been trained at our Agency. The FRONTEX curricula (Common Core Curriculum) comprise a set of common learning standards for members of the border and coast guard at the operational level in EU Member States, establishing a solid basis for interoperability and cooperation in all border guard activities. The integration of the CCC into national systems is evaluated through the Interoperability Assessment Programme, which has been successfully completed by cadets delegated from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Alongside the basic training curricula, essential activities were also carried out to align nine specialised training curricula, attended by 163 police officers of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ceremony was attended by a high-level delegation from FRONTEX, headed by Executive Director Mr Hans Leijtens, Deputy Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Ivica Bošnjak, Director of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Mirko Kuprešaković, Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs Mr Žarko Laketa, AEPTM staff, and 140 Border Police cadets currently undergoing basic police training at our Agency in accordance with FRONTEX standards.

In his address, FRONTEX Executive Director Hans Leijtens, who first donned a police uniform 44 years ago, spoke directly to the cadets who, despite other career options, chose to contribute to the security of their own country and to serve their people.

“You will be part of a large family of police officers across the world. We swear to serve and protect, and that oath applies to each and every one of you,” said Leijtens, adding that throughout his career he learned how crucial police integrity is. “I wish you successful careers and hope that one day you will become part of FRONTEX. For now, FRONTEX officers will stand shoulder to shoulder with you on the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he concluded.

Deputy Minister of Security Mr Ivica Bošnjak told the cadets that they must already begin to form their vision of a policing career and work continuously on their professional development in light of increasingly complex security challenges.

“This is basic training, and we at the strategic level are doing everything to make education more comprehensive — to provide you with fundamental knowledge, but also specialised expertise in specific areas,” said Bošnjak. He reminded those present that a Cooperation Agreement with FRONTEX was signed in June and that its operational plan is now being implemented, including joint work with FRONTEX officers.
“I know that AEPTM has a long-standing cooperation with FRONTEX, and I am honoured to attend the signing of this formal agreement today. It is an incentive for even broader cooperation, particularly in training programmes, which will contribute to the development of your careers,” he concluded.

At the beginning of his address, Director Vujević thanked all those who have contributed in any way to the cooperation with FRONTEX and emphasised that signing the agreement obliges the Agency to continue its ongoing efforts to align curricula with FRONTEX standards.

“We know that FRONTEX officers will be deployed to the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in November. We can proudly say that, together with our partner agency, the Border Police, we have trained cadets who will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with FRONTEX border guards — which was our goal,” said Vujević. He also underlined the importance of lifelong learning for cadets, adding that the Agency he leads will continue to organise training activities to ensure that border police officers are as competent as possible in border surveillance and protection.

By signing this agreement, the Agency for Education and Professional Training officially joins the FRONTEX Partnership Academy Network, i.e. the network of national educational institutions for the training of border and coast guards — a key element in promoting excellence in the education and training of border and coast guard officers, and in maintaining effective cooperation with law enforcement stakeholders both within and outside the European Union.

The aim of the network of police academies is to continuously enhance cooperation between FRONTEX and its partner academies, as well as among the academies themselves, thereby facilitating national efforts to create transnational partnerships for the alignment of border and coast guard education and training — contributing to stronger national capacities, improved cooperation, and the creation of synergies.

Through today’s act, the management of the Agency for Education and Professional Training reaffirms its commitment to further harmonising curricula and strengthening European standards in the field of police education.