‘I evaluate the work of the Hungarian EUFOR leadership as successful, and I also commend the activities of the soldiers involved in the operation,’ highlighted Major General László Sticz, who was the first Hungarian general to commanded the European Union’s EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from January 2024 until January this year. László Sticz gave an interview to Magyar Nemzet after returning to Hungary, in which he reflected on his experiences in a mission operating in a particularly tense security environment.
As we reported earlier, following the decision of the Political and Security Committee of the European Union in October 2023, Hungary was offered leadership of EUFOR Althea for the first time. Major General Dr László Sticz, commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces Military Modernization and Transformation Command, led the European Union peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a year from January 2024.
Along with the Hungarian commander, a Hungarian peacekeeping contingent was present in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an increased number of about 400 soldiers. The Hungarian Defence Forces provided an air search and rescue team, an air evacuation team, an artillery team with dog patrols, medical support (ROLE-1 level), as well as logistical support and supplies with 250 personnel. An additional 150 personnel were on standby to support the operation, including a manoeuvre squadron, a military police team, a technical team, and a chemical protection team with water purification capability.
From the end of 2009 until early 2024, Austrian commanders took turns leading the EUFOR mission, and after the one-year Hungarian leadership, it will continue under Romanian leadership until early 2026. Major General Sticz handed over command to General Florin-Marian Barbu, but Hungary will continue to play a leading role in the operation, as it will hold the chief of staff position starting May 2025.
A Year Full of Challenges
Reflecting on his memories from the one-year mission command, László Sticz recalled that he faced many difficulties at the beginning of his service last year. According to him, some political leaders had significant reservations about the Hungarian contingent, and dispelling those required considerable effort and energy.
Additionally, the Hungarian contingent had to confront unexpected natural disasters, such as summer wildfires, autumn floods, and landslides, during which they actively participated in protecting the local population and mitigating damages.
‘My greatest professional challenge was to forge the EUFOR military mission composed of 24 nations in such a way that it would be capable of carrying out its tasks,’ Major General Sticz emphasized.
Thus, it was a challenge to coordinate the technical equipment, weapon systems, and procedures effectively to execute the assigned tasks, given that it is not only NATO member states that participate in EUFOR Althea.
‘This also meant establishing good relationships with military, police, and political leaders because the federal structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely complex,’ he explained. The Hungarian leadership faced a complex political structure that stretched from the state level down to the local level. ‘This posed challenges even for the local leaders,’ he added.
Despite the difficulties faced, the feedback the general received from local political, military, and police leaders was positive: they expressed that they were very satisfied with the Hungarian EUFOR command in 2024.
‘They said we made a significant contribution to the country's stability and worked as a reliable partner: we supported a safe environment, assisted the local authorities, and acted actively and effectively during natural disasters,’ Major General László Sticz concluded.
Operation Althea
Operation Althea, also known as the European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), is a peacekeeping mission with military deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina to oversee the military implementation of the 1995 Dayton Agreement. It is the successor to NATO's SFOR, which ended on December 2, 2004, and is responsible for maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment (SASE) in BiH. Since the mission began, the responsibility for the execution of many tasks has been handed over to local authorities according to the principle of ‘local ownership’ and in line with BiH’s path towards EU membership. Nevertheless, EUFOR promotes an environment in which the peace process can continue while retaining full responsibility and authority to reassume control if required. The mission currently has 1,100 personnel in the region, with contributions from 22 participating countries.
Peace and stability in the Western Balkans are in Hungary's fundamental interest, which is why Hungarian soldiers have been present in Bosnia and Herzegovina for nearly 30 years.
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