Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1413 of 9 July 2025 on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 (BiH/40/2025)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/1413 21.7.2025 POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1413 of 9 July 2025 on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 (BiH/40/2025) THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof, Having regard to Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 12 July 2004, the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, which provides for a European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA).

(2) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee

(PSC) to take relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA (the ‘EU Operation Commander’).

(3) On 8 October 2018, the PSC decided in principle that the Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is to be appointed as EU Operation Commander as from 29 March 2019, subject to NATO confirming that person’s availability.

(4) On 7 December 2018, the North Atlantic Council confirmed the availability of the Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE to assume the role of EU Operation Commander under the ‘Berlin plus’ Arrangements as from 29 March 2019.

(5) On 13 September 2022, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611(2), appointing Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU, Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE, as EU Operation Commander.

(6) On 16 June 2025, NATO decided to appoint Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY as Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE, replacing Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU as from 1 August 2025. Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY should also replace, as from that date, Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU in his capacity as EU Operation Commander.

(7) On 24 June 2025, the EU Military Committee agreed to recommend the nomination of Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY as EU Operation Commander as from 1 August 2025.

(8) Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 should therefore be repealed.

(9) On 12 and 13 December 2002, the Copenhagen European Council adopted a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY, Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

(SHAPE), is appointed as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as from 1 August 2025.

(1) OJ L 252, 28.7.2004, p. 10, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2004/570/oj.

(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 of 13 September 2022 on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2020/1010 (BiH/33/2022) (OJ L 241, 19.9.2022, p. 5, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1611/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1413/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 21.7.2025 Article 2 Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 is hereby repealed.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on 1 August 2025.

Done at Brussels, 9 July 2025.

For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson D. PRONK 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1413/oj