Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by a political analyst (details supplied) to the Joint Committee on European Affairs on 8 September 2009 in view of the ongoing need in the Western Balkans, with particular reference to the role of the international peace keeping and intelligence missions and their belief that any diminution in the extent of such missions would be premature and that any diminution or withdrawal could lead to a deterioration of the situation in the region; if he will ensure that the fullest possible extent of international support is maintained for the foreseeable future with his European Union and United Nations colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31384/09]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I very much support the view that the international community must continue its engagement in Bosnia-Herzegovina and more generally do all possible to achieve lasting stability in the countries of the Western Balkans.

In relation to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which monitors the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, last met in Sarajevo on 29 and 30 June 2009. The PIC's Steering Board noted with concern a deterioration in the country's political situation and concluded that the "five plus two" conditionality, which it had set down in February 2008, had not been fulfilled.

It was accordingly not opportune to move, as previously planned, towards the closure of the Office of the High Representative and transfer to a reinforced EU Special Representative. It was therefore decided that the Office of the High Representative should stay in place and continue to carry out its mandate under the Dayton accord.

Since then, little progress has been made in the functioning of state institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in particular in the area of the division of state and defence property. In an attempt to help to advance matters, the High Representative/EU Special Representative, Dr. Valentin Inzko, announced in August 2009 that he would assist with the preparation of an inventory of state property. The next meeting of the Peace Implementation Council will take place on 18-19 November 2009 and will review and assess any progress on the outstanding issues. I can assure the Deputy that Ireland, together with its EU colleagues and the UN, will continue to press for the achievement of the necessary conditions before any transition from the Office of the High Representative to a reinforced EU Special Representative occurs.

There are at present two European Union missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Operation Althea with a military stabilisation role, and the police reform mission EUPM. The EU Police Mission, established in 2003 to follow on from the UN's International Police Task Force, focuses on capacity-building and professionalising the local law enforcement authorities, in particular in relation to the fight against organised crime. Four members of An Garda Síochána currently serve with EUPM.

Operation Althea was launched in December 2004, with a Security Council mandate, to succeed the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR). 44 members of the Defence Forces serve with Althea. In May 2009, the General Affairs and External Relations Council discussed prospects for a possible evolution of Operation Althea in the event of the conditionality set for transfer of responsibility from the Office of the High Representative to a reinforced EU Special Representative being fulfilled. The Council confirmed that it would keep the preparatory work for a possible evolution of Althea under regular review, so that a decision on the future of the operation could be taken once the necessary conditions had been met. Together with our EU partners, Ireland would like to see ongoing support provided for the economic and political development of Bosnia-Herzegovina.