Date: 2025-07-21Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1413 of 9 July 2025 on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 (BiH/40/2025)
**Executive Summary:**
This Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP 2025/1413) addresses the appointment of a new EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA). It appoints Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY as the new commander, replacing Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU, effective August 1, 2025, and repeals Decision CFSP 2022/1611.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Appointment of EU Operation Commander:**
* Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY is appointed as the EU Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA, effective August 1, 2025.
* PINON de QUINCY is the Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
* **Repeal of Previous Decision:**
* Decision CFSP 2022/1611, which previously appointed Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU as EU Operation Commander, is repealed.
* **Entry into Force:**
* This decision enters into force on August 1, 2025.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY**
* *Impact:* Assumes the role of EU Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA.
* *Action Required:* Prepare to take command of the EU military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* **Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU**
* *Impact:* Relieved of duties as EU Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA.
* *Action Required:* Hand over command to Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY.
* **Political and Security Committee**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the decision regarding the change of command.
* *Action Required:* Ensure the smooth transition of command.
* **EU Military Committee**
* *Impact:* Responsible for recommending the nomination of the new EU Operation Commander.
* *Action Required:* Acknowledge the decision.
* **European Union Member States**
* *Impact:* The decision affects the command structure of the EU military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is conducted on behalf of the EU.
* *Action Required:* Note the change in command.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: A country in Southeastern Europe where the European Union military operation ALTHEA is located.
Political and Security Committee: A committee within the European Union responsible for common foreign and security policy (CFSP) matters.
EU Operation Commander: The commander of the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA).
Operation ALTHEA: The European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe SHAPE: The headquarters of NATO's Allied Command Operations.
Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY: Appointed as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as from 1 August 2025.
Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU: The previous EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1413 21.7.2025
POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1413
of 9 July 2025
on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 (BiH/40/2025)
THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,
Having regard to Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia
and Herzegovina(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 12 July 2004, the Council adopted Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, which provides for a European Union military
operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA).
(2) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee
(PSC) to take relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA (the
‘EU Operation Commander’).
(3) On 8 October 2018, the PSC decided in principle that the Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers Europe (SHAPE) is to be appointed as EU Operation Commander as from 29 March 2019, subject to NATO
confirming that person’s availability.
(4) On 7 December 2018, the North Atlantic Council confirmed the availability of the Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE to
assume the role of EU Operation Commander under the ‘Berlin plus’ Arrangements as from 29 March 2019.
(5) On 13 September 2022, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611(2), appointing Lieutenant General Hubert
COTTEREAU, Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE, as EU Operation Commander.
(6) On 16 June 2025, NATO decided to appoint Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY as Vice-Chief of Staff at
SHAPE, replacing Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU as from 1 August 2025. Lieutenant General Ludovic
PINON de QUINCY should also replace, as from that date, Lieutenant General Hubert COTTEREAU in his capacity as
EU Operation Commander.
(7) On 24 June 2025, the EU Military Committee agreed to recommend the nomination of Lieutenant General Ludovic
PINON de QUINCY as EU Operation Commander as from 1 August 2025.
(8) Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 should therefore be repealed.
(9) On 12 and 13 December 2002, the Copenhagen European Council adopted a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin
plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are
also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral
security agreements with NATO,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Lieutenant General Ludovic PINON de QUINCY, Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE), is appointed as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
as from 1 August 2025.
(1) OJ L 252, 28.7.2004, p. 10, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2004/570/oj.
(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 of 13 September 2022 on the appointment of the EU Operation
Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2020/1010
(BiH/33/2022) (OJ L 241, 19.9.2022, p. 5, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/1611/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1413/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 21.7.2025
Article 2
Decision (CFSP) 2022/1611 is hereby repealed.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 1 August 2025.
Done at Brussels, 9 July 2025.
For the Political and Security Committee
The Chairperson
D. PRONK
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1413/oj