Major General Maurizio Fronda, commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), participated in the 28th meeting of the Strategic Committee for Ammunition, Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (SCAWEO), reaffirming the EU military mission’s commitment to supporting safety and stability in the country. The committee, which brings together representatives of domestic institutions and international partners, serves as the primary coordination platform for managing the legacy of Bosnia’s conflict era weapons stockpiles, a challenge that remains acute more than three decades after the end of the 1992-1995 war.
The scale of the problem is staggering. Bosnia and Herzegovina still holds approximately 15,000 tons of surplus ammunition, much of it chemically unstable and stored in conditions that pose severe risks to nearby communities. In 2017 alone, EUFOR reported that 2,626 tons of ammunition were disposed of under the committee’s direction, including 5,388 pieces of white phosphorus. Yet progress has been slow, and the end state target of reducing stockpiles to roughly 5,000 tons remains distant. The SCAWEO framework addresses not only disposal but also the development of sustainable ammunition management systems, inventory integration, and long term security measures. EUFOR’s role extends beyond mere oversight: the mission has conducted joint exercises with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the annual “Combined Response” drills that test explosive ordnance disposal capabilities and enhance interoperability between multinational and domestic forces.
Fronda’s participation carries particular significance given his extensive experience in the region. An Italian paratrooper who served as a platoon leader and staff officer during NATO’s IFOR and SFOR operations in Bosnia in the 1990s, Fronda assumed command of EUFOR Operation Althea in January 2026. His return to the Balkans comes at a delicate moment, with the international community maintaining a firm commitment to safeguarding peace amid persistent political tensions. The Council of the EU recently adopted a €15 million assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to strengthen Bosnia’s military capabilities, including individual protective equipment, CBRN gear, and night vision devices. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the SCAWEO meeting represents both a practical step toward reducing a lethal legacy and a symbol of the continued international engagement that remains essential to the country’s fragile stability.
