There are still certain tensions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the EU and NATO believe that as far as security policy is concerned it is a mature and stable country, chief of the EU Military Staff David Leakey said.
According to the statement, the troop withdrawal plan would be carried out in four stages. In the first stage, which is to begin soon, 3,500 out of the 6,500 troops would be withdrawn.
By August, EU troops would be drawn down to 2,500. Most of the EU Force (EUFOR) troops are from Italy, which has 900 soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina, followed by Germany with 830, France and Britain.
At the same time, the EU plans to increase its presence in Kosovo.
Germany wants all 16,000 NATO troops in Kosovo to stay there, saying that a reduction of the contingent would send "a wrong signal". It called on the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians to make additional efforts in order to arrive at a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem.
The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, said it was of vital importance for the EU not to lose sight of Southeast Europe.
Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo are a part of our continent and therefore the stability of this area is of fundamental importance to us, Solana said.