On the 4th of August, Lieutenant General Leonardo di Marco, Head of the European Union Command Element (EUCE) at the Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples visited COM EUFOR Major General Johann Luif at EUFOR Camp Butmir. Alongside his leadership of the EUCE, Lieutenant General di Marco is also Chief of Staff, Joint Force Command Naples.

Collaboration and the Comprehensive Approach

The role of the EUCE is to ensure that EUFOR Althea is working as an integral part of the EU comprehensive approach within Bosnia and Herzegovina. EUFOR is responsible for the defense aspect of the approach including certain areas of security. The EUCE also supports collaboration between EUFOR and NATO within the Balkans, underpinned by the ‘Berlin Plus’ agreement of 2004.

Capacity Building & Training

During the office call with COM EUFOR, Lieutenant General di Marco discussed the EUFOR Capacity Building & Training program. COM NATO HQ Sarajevo Brigadier General Giselle Wilz also attended the meeting. The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are supported by EUFOR through a range of training and mentoring activities, all designed to improve their abilities in areas such as Disaster Relief and Peace Support Operations.