SIPA

On the occasion of the official signing the Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Police Office (Europol), the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) was visited today by the Europol delegation headed by the Director Rob Wainright, Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Mektić and representatives of the EU Delegation to BiH headed by Richard Wood, the Head of the Rule of Law Section.

The Europol delegation met with the Deputy Director of SIPA Đuro Knežević and heads of the organisational units Ernad Musić and Dragan Mumović.

After the presentation of the operations and role of SIPA in the security system of BiH, Deputy Director of SIPA expressed his satisfaction with the signature of the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europol. He said that this was a very important agreement and that SIPA would give their best in the fight against all types of crime under their competence and thus contribute to a safer environment for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union.

Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is proud of SIPA and as their priority he pointed out the fight against organised crime, terrorism and corruption. He emphasised that SIPA will have the most extensive cooperation with Europol and as such it will be greatly supported by the Ministry of Security.

The Europol Director emphasised that the fight against terrorism and organized crime is very important for Europol and that SIPA and Europol are natural partners because their jurisdictions are compatible. He added that SIPA must take advantage of the opportunities that are now offered, given that the signing of the Agreement connected the BiH police with 40 other countries, which are also parties to this Agreement with EUROPOL.

The Head of the Rule of Law Section within the Delegation of the European Union to BiH, said that the fight against terrorism should be one of the SIPA and Europol priorities and that the funds of the European Union are available not only to other Europol member states but also to SIPA.

Representatives of both delegations stated that they will respect the Agreement and improve it additionally in the future in order to combat today’s security threats more efficiently.