EU Delegation and Five Embassies: New High Representative Should Come from an EU Member State, We Appreciate Cooperation with the US

(Patria) - The EU Delegation and the embassies of EU member states in the Peace Implementation Council (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain) have commented on the developments at the session of the PIC Steering Board, which during its two-day meeting in Sarajevo failed to elect a new High Representative.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has submitted an application for membership in the European Union. In light of this fundamental commitment, the European Union member states within the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board consider that the new High Representative, in line with previous practice, should come from a European Union member state.

The European Union member states within the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board are fully committed to appointing a successor to High Representative Christian Schmidt by the end of the month. We appreciate the cooperation with the United States of America and other international partners within the Steering Board, while acknowledging the constructive discussions held over the past two days.

We are determined to continue working with them and to bring positions closer regarding a candidate who, as an integrative factor, is able to cooperate with all actors in the implementation of the High Representative’s mandate, including domestic actors. We continue intensive consultations in the coming days and are ready to meet again with our partners within the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board to finalize the appointment process soon.

The EU is committed to the stability, security and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its path towards EU membership”.