Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty has been appointed head of the EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUPM).
Commissioner Carty's appointment was confirmed by the EU's External Relations Council with the unanimous approval of EU Member States. The appointment will commence formally on March 1st and is for one year, with option to renew.
EUPM's specific policing tasks have involved monitoring, mentoring, inspection, training and technical support to the local police authorities. The mission has no executive powers and the international police officers are unarmedThe Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, welcomed the appointment, saying it showed the "high international esteem for An Garda Síochána and their contributions to international police missions."