Locations
EU STAR Project
The excessive stockpiles of ammunition and associated risk of an uncontrolled explosion, continue to pose a significant hazard to human safety and security in BiH. A potential worst-case scenario not only effects the lives and infrastructure of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) / Armed Forces (AF) in BiH, but could also present a potential small-scale humanitarian crisis due to the effect it will have on people and infrastructure of the local community.
As per official data of the MoD of BiH, in June 2016, the Armed Forces of BiH are responsible for the management of approximately 17,000 tonnes of ammunition located in 12 storage sites throughout the country. It is expected that it will be necessary to dispose around 6,000 tonnes of unsafe ammunition for further storage in order to reach the desired and final stage of a sustainable stockpile management system in BiH.
The EUSTAR Project builds upon the results and lessons learned from the EXPLODE Project, which was funded by the EU and implemented by the UNDP from April 2013 to November 2016, to continue supporting the establishment of a sustainable stockpile management system in BiH.
EU STAR project mission
The mission was to reduce risks and threats concerning peace, stability and development in BiH, by contributing to the improvement of a sustainable stockpile management system in the country. This was done by firstly substantially decreasing unsafe and unstable ammunition stockpiles, and by fully employing ‘know-how’ transfer personnel from the Project to the MoD and AF BiH.
EU STAR project specifies
The EUSTAR Project aimed to dispose up to 3,000 tonnes of unstable ammunition in the local and international demilitarization facilities.
The EUSTAR Project enabled sustainable demilitarization capability in the country, by providing capacitation and expertise, over the course of the last/final 6 months (24+6), securing that the equipment and know-how are transferred to the national authorities, and ensuring the complete sustainability and continuity of the Project in the future.
The cost of action for the EUSTAR Project over the period of 30 months was EUR 2,793,346.66.
EU STAR project activities/results
- Component 1
Disposal of remnants of war – direct assistance to the significant reduction of ammunition quantities through the safe and environmentally benign disposal of up to 3,000 tonnes of ammunition, including unstable and unsafe ammunitions as well as complex ammunition systems; - Component 2
Ammunition disposal know-how transfer – ensuring that all necessary disposal skills and knowledge are successfully conveyed from the project and its contractors to the AF BiH.
Concerning the coordination and implementation of activities designed to contribute to the disposal of unsafe, unstable and complex ammunition, the Project closely worked with the Ministry of Defense BiH/Armed Forces (MoD/AF BiH), the Delegation of the European Union in BiH (EUD), the European Union Force in BiH (EUFOR), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the US Department of State and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters in BiH (NATO HQ).
Strategic framework / SDGs
The Project directly addressed the strategic goals of BiH’s Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control Strategy 2016-2020, BiH’s international, legal and political commitments under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH (Dayton Peace Agreement (GFAP), country’s strategic priority (reflected in the recently submitted BiH membership application) to join the European Union (EU), and BiH’s obligations stemming from EU Accession process, with focus on EU Acquis and its Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security, as well as BiH commitments under the Rule of Law and Good Governance from the BiH Reform Agenda 2015 – 2018.
The Project activities were designed to contribute to BiH’s international obligations related to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”, and the Fifth Outcome of UNDP‘s Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017, which states that “countries are able to reduce the likelihood of conflict, and lower the risk of natural disasters, including from climate change”.
Status:
Completed
Start date:
01/06/2017
End date:
31/04/2020
Focus Area:
Justice and Security
Donor
European Union
Project value
EUR 2,793,346.66
Partners:
United Nations Development Programme, Ministry of Defense BiH/Armed Forces (MoD/AF BiH), the Delegation of the European Union in BiH (EUD), the European Union Force in BiH (EUFOR), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the US Department of State and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters in BiH (NATO HQ).
The Strategy is a comprehensive document that aims to enhance efficiency of all stakeholders in the area of SALW control in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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