Contribution of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU Crisis Management Military Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Republic of North Macedonia has reaffirmed its strategic commitment for attaining membership to the EU by its resolute political commitment to support the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP) and by declaring a concrete contribution to the civilian and military operations in the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
The participation of the Republic of North Macedonia in the EU crisis management military operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the first in the series of concrete and substantial contributions that the Republic of North Macedonia provides in the framework of the civilian and military CSDP operations aimed at enhancing the EU capacities.
The Agreement between the Republic of North Macedonia and the EU on the participation of the Republic of North Macedonia in Althea was signed on 3 July 2006, in Brussels. The contribution of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU operation Althea has confirmed its progress from a consumer of the first EU military operation (Concordia 2003) into an active contributor to the CSDP (Althea 2006).
The Republic of North Macedonia has been continuously participating in the EUFOR operation in BiH, ALTHEA, since July 2006 and has to date implemented and completed its contribution with a helicopter detachment, a ROLE 1 medical team for medical support at Camp Butmir, as well as staff officers in the EUFOR Command and advisors to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a total participation of 510 persons heretofore.
In accordance with the rebalanced mission structure, since December 2018 we have been contributing 1 person, Deputy Law Enforcement Liaison Officer, to Section J-2 in the EUFOR Command.
In May 2022, we increased our contribution to ALTHEA with one infantry platoon (32 pax) integrated into the infantry company of the Turkish Armed Forces at Camp Butmir in Sarajevo. Since July 2024, Greece has been the host nation for the infantry company instead of Turkey on a rotational basis, and our platoon has been integrated into the Greek company since July 2024. Since January 2025, our platoon has been integrated again into the maneuver company of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Currently, we are contributing 33 persons to the Operation ALTHEA (an infantry platoon in strength of 32 and a staff officer, a liaison officer with law enforcement institutions in the EUFOR Command Section J-2).