EU-Western Balkans military cooperation under the European Peace Facility: first batch of equipment handed over to the Balkan Medical Task Force

Equipment consisting of printers, laptops and a radio communication system were handed over to the BMTF in Skopje, North Macedonia on 22 September. The BMTF personnel completed a hands-on training in September on the use of the communication and information systems and are now ready to operate the equipment. The package is part of an EPF assistance measure worth EUR 6 million, which was adopted on 9 June 2022.

The support is destined for the medical units of the armed forces of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It aims to strengthen the military medical capabilities of these five countries, members of BMTF, through the provision of medical equipment for field hospitals and laboratories, vehicles and IT and communication items. It is implemented by the Slovenian non-profit organisation ITF Enhancing Human Security.

Since its establishment in 2016, the BMTF has become the main defence cooperation initiative in the Western Balkans. In addition to participating to military exercises and deploying staff to international missions, the BMTF guarantees a solidarity mechanism for the rapid deployment of medical teams for disaster response and civilian relief in the region.

Thanks to the EPF support, in addition to the IT and communication equipment, the first medical items have also been delivered, including surgical units, infusion stands, and aspirators in Serbia and North Macedonia, and treatment stations in Montenegro. The assistance will continue throughout 2024 and 2025 with the handover of tents, generators, field furniture, heating systems, surgical and field dental care items among others.

The EPF assistance measure benefitting the BMTF is part of an expanding military cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans which now comprises 6 projects adopted to date for an overall amount of EUR 61 million.