The European Union launched Operation Althea on December 2004.

On 2 December 2004, NATO successfully terminated the mission of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) and the European Union launched the European Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea.

On 11 October 2004, the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved the operational plan for Operation Althea, the largest European led military operation so far.

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the launch of Operation Althea marks the beginning of a new phase in its recovery its transition from the era of Dayton to the era of Brussels.

Pre launch public information campaigns, designed and run by the EU Special Representative's press team in cooperation with the EU Planning Team and NATO SFOR, helped ensure that Operation Althea was widely understood by the time the transfer took place.

The need to prepare the Bosnia and Herzegovina public and governments for this historic change was recognized from the start of planning for Operation Althea, as was the importance of ensuring a seamless transition and demonstrating from the start that EUFOR would possess a mandate as robust as that of the outgoing NATO led force.