Today, Tuesday 14 March 2006, a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the forthcoming Joint Venture Projects programme was signed between COM EUFOR, Major-General Chiarini, and the Ministers of Transport and Communication of both Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) and Republika Srpska; Ministers Brankovic and Cubrilovic.

Since the start of the EUFOR mission in December 2004, significant contributions to infrastructure reconstruction in BiH have been provided through several programmes coordinated and supported by EUFOR. These programmes are related to road, rail, bridge and tunnel reconstruction and support to a snow and ice clearance (SNIC) programme during the winter months. The main effort is towards road reconstruction. At the start of EUFOR’s mission, MoUs signed with SFOR were temporarily extended for the year 2005 in order to facilitate timely implementation of the 2005 Joint Venture Projects Programme and to give the Parties (EUFOR, Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska) sufficient time to develop a new MoU.

All EUFOR road reconstruction projects are implemented as joint venture projects with the Federation BiH Road Directorate and the Public Company ‘Republika Srpska Roads’, who are responsible for repair and maintenance of all main and regional roads in Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska respectively.

All projects are cost shared and implemented in accordance with MoUs between EUFOR and the relevant Ministries of Transport and Communications. Work is contracted to local companies from across BIH, providing a significant financial contribution to the local economy. EUFOR provides 50% of the finance for such projects.

The total value of the EUFOR contribution to 2005 Joint Venture projects was approximately 5.1 million EURO, contributing to the funding of 39 projects, of which a total of 17 were completed and 21 are currently ongoing. The biggest projects of 2005 include the reconstruction of the Crnaja and Kupreska Vrata tunnels and the repair of three bridges in the area of Mrkonjic Grad, all marked with opening ceremonies in November and December 2005.

The new MoU has been developed, negotiated and extensively coordinated between EUFOR and Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska authorities during last the 6 months. After significant effort, the final version of the new MoU was recently agreed, resulting in today’s MoU signing ceremony.

The total number of projects agreed for 2006 to date is 35, with EUFOR contributing approximately 5 million EUROs, 50% of the total value of 2006 Joint Venture Projects Programme. The other 50% will be provided by Federation BiH Road Directorate and Public Company ‘Republic of Srpska Roads’.

In addition to these road MoUs, there are also existing MoUs in place governing implementation of EUFOR railway projects and SNIC programme during the winter months. These programmes are also implemented in cooperation with relevant railway authorities and Road Directorates. The EUFOR Railway Programme for 2005 consisted of 8 projects, all completed, at a total cost of approx 1.5 million EUROs. HQ EUFOR is also in process of defining the 2006 Railway Projects Programme, with EUFOR contributing approximately 1.5million EUROs, in coordination with relevant railway authorities. For the SNIC programme, covering the period 15 Nov 05 - 15 March 06, EUFOR provided 9% of the total cost of this programme, some 600,000 EUROs.

In addition to these programmes, HQ EUFOR also coordinates implementation of 10 EUFOR Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) projects funded by European Commission and implemented by Italian and Austrian Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Units, with a total value of 1 million EUROs.

These programmes and MoUs are pursued with a view to helping BiH make further progress towards European integration, emphasizing that the BiH civilian authorities have primary responsibility for infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance and that these efforts are greatly enhanced by the joint approach of the Parties.

Source: European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina - EUFOR