Contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU Crisis Management Military Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union for the participation of the Republic of Macedonia in the operation ALTHEA, signed on July 3, 2006, in Brussels, Belgium, the first contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to an EU led operation began in July 2006 by deploying ARM helicopter detachment, consisting of two Mi-8/17 helicopters and a staff of 21 people.
In November 2006, the Republic of Macedonia enhanced its contribution to the EU operation ALTHEA in BiH by deploying a medical team of 10, for ROLE 1 medical support, at the camp in Butmir.
Considering the importance of the helicopter support for executing the missions as part of the operation Althea, especially in the period of the ongoing EUFOR transformation, a continuation of the mission of the Macedonian helicopter detachment was requested and hence it remained there with the same composition for a second and third rotation.
In addition, the contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to Althea was reinforced by declaring an additional person military lawyer – assistant legal advisor in the HQ EUFOR (as of 20 June 2007). Thus, the total contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to the operation Althea, including the helicopter detachment and the medical capacity, consisted of 2 Mi-8/17 helicopters and 32 personnel.
In terms of the fourth rotation of the helicopter detachment (January – June 2008), on the basis of prior analyses and assessments, the Republic of Macedonia made a decision to withdraw one helicopter Mi 8/17 in order to achieve the required level of operability for future contributions. In line with the Decision, the fourth rotation of the helicopter detachment in the mission Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina consisted of a transport helicopter Mi 8/17 and 12 crew.
On 12 January 2008, a tragic helicopter crash happened in the vicinity of the village Blace, Katlanovo, when 11 members of the ARM lost their lives on returning from a successfully completed mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the third rotation of the helicopter detachment.
In February 2008, the Republic of Macedonia sent one additional person – NCO for preventive medicine in the HQ EUFOR. Hence, the total contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to the operation Althea consisted of a transport helicopter Mi-8/17 and 24 personnel.
Following the completion of the fourth rotation of the helicopter detachment in July 2008, the Republic of Macedonia made a decision to end its contribution with a helicopter detachment in the EUFOR operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consisted of four rotations (July 2006 – July 2008).
Upon the withdrawal of the helicopter detachment, the Republic of Macedonia has continued its contribution to the medical team for Role 1 medical support Camp Butmir, composed of 10 personnel, one assistant legal advisor in the HQ EUFOR and one NCO for preventive medicine in the HQ EUFOR, totalling 12 personnel.
During 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Republic of Macedonia continued its participation with the same capacity. In accordance with the new structure and reduction of EUFOR-ALTHEA, the position of non-commissioned officer for preventive medicine ceased to exist since January 2012, so the contribution to this peace operation in 2012 remained with a medical team and a legal advisor, a total of 11 people.
In 2012, 2013 and 2014 the contribution to the ALTHEA operation continued with a total participation of 11 people (10 in the medical team and 1 military legal advisor, assistant legal advisor in the EUFOR Command).
The medical team contribution to the peace operation ALTHEA ended on May 31, 2015, with the return of the seventeenth rotation of the medical team.
On June 23, 2015, the 16th rotation of the assistant legal advisor in ALTHEA ended, which was the last rotation of our country in this position.
According to the plans, the Republic of Macedonia made a decision to continue its participation in the ALTHEA with two new staff positions, starting in May 2015.
From May 2015, a new contribution started with two staff positions (one staff officer, advisor in the training and capacity building section and one staff non-commissioned officer, administrator in the training, planning and coordination section) and continued until the end of December 2018 when these two positions ceased to exist, due to new EUFOR transformation.
In accordance with the new transformation of Operation ALTHEA and the rebalanced mission, as of December 2018, the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia contributes to the mission with 1 position: Deputy Liaison Officer for Law Enforcement Institutions, in the J-2 section.
As of May 2022, we increased again our participation by deploying an infantry platoon in strength of 32 members tasked to operate as part of the maneuver company of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye engaged in this mission.
The contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to the operation Althea is a confirmation of its strong commitment for a contribution to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU as well as a conformation of the overall efforts of the Republic of Macedonia for integration into the EU.