EU Member States Today on New High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - European Union member states will attempt to find common ground on a new High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a meeting on June 15, reports Radio Free Europe.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the topics on the agenda of the meeting of EU foreign ministers, held in Luxembourg.

The meeting will also be attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who expressed hope before the meeting that the EU would "unite around a candidate for the position of High Representative."

"In my opinion, the work of the High Representative should function in such a way that it very quickly becomes unnecessary, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina regains full sovereignty and that decision-making under international supervision is no longer needed," said Kos.

"We in the European Commission are preparing a future vision for Bosnia and Herzegovina," she added.

Following the announced resignation of the current High Representative Christian Schmidt, the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) at a meeting held on June 4 failed to reach consensus on the selection of a new head of the Office of the High Representative in BiH (OHR).

Differences in views between the European Union and the United States dominated.

Italy has nominated 76-year-old Antonio Zanardi Landi for this position, who has the support of the US.

A new PIC meeting is planned for the end of June. From the German Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they told Radio Free Europe that they are "close to a decision on the successor to the High Representative."

"We are determined to find a candidate who unites and who will be able to work with all parties, including domestic interest groups, on implementing the mandate of the High Representative. Intensive consultations are ongoing and we are ready to meet again with our partners in the PIC to finalize the appointment as soon as possible. It is important that a candidate with a European profile, who is suitable and qualified as a successor, is chosen to ensure an orderly transition in June," the Embassy stated.

It added that the goal is to "reach consensus by the end of June so that we can focus on the elections in October."