12/02/2026

As part of the coordinated “Team Europe” initiative, the European Union and its Member States – France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany – today handed over specialised drone training equipment to the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the headquarters of the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM).

The donated equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and camera systems, will enhance the operational readiness and technical skills of Border Police officers. The support strengthens modern border management capacities and contributes to the prevention, detection and investigation of trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling, while ensuring respect for fundamental rights and the protection of vulnerable persons.

The donation agreement was signed by the Director of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mirko Kuprešaković, and the EU4FAST Project Manager, Franck Fortin, on behalf of Civipol. Fortin emphasised that the drones will be used as part of a certified drone pilot training programme, fully integrated into the official curriculum of our Agency.

“The EU4FAST Project contributes to enhanced border surveillance. Drones are a modern and effective tool when used by trained and responsible personnel, within a clear legal framework,” Fortin said.

The handover forms part of a broader capacity-building package worth approximately EUR 220,000, combining equipment and training. While ownership of the equipment remains with the Border Police of BiH, training activities are conducted in cooperation with AEPTM, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact. Initial training activities are already underway.

The support is provided under the EU4FAST project, a regional initiative valued at over EUR 40 million aimed at combating trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling in the Western Balkans. The project is funded by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and implemented by GIZ.

Magdalena Mueller Uri, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation, emphasised that the donation demonstrates continued EU support to strengthening border management and combating cross-border crime. “The security of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also the security of the European Union. This equipment will enable more effective monitoring of hard-to-reach terrain and faster response in the field,” she stated.

The Ambassador of France underlined France’s strong engagement in the field of security through the EU4FAST programme, highlighting that supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s security contributes to the security of Europe as a whole.

AEPTM Director Marko Vujević stressed that the drone operator training, conducted in cooperation with CIVIPOL and the Border Police, is based on curricula developed in line with FRONTEX methodology. Border Police Director Mirko Kuprešaković noted that the project will contribute to more efficient surveillance of the country’s 1,600-kilometre border and confirmed that the equipment will be used exclusively for training certified drone pilot instructors, whose knowledge will be transferred to future generations of police officers across BiH.