Foreign Affairs Council meeting
Luxembourg, 20 October 2014

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

“1. The Council welcomes the overall orderly conduct of the elections which took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 October, underlines the crucial importance of swift government formation, and calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders to act immediately to ensure this takes place. The Council recalls its Conclusions of April 2014 and reiterates its call for the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage immediately on a broader set of issues in order to address the challenges that the country faces as it progresses towards the EU. The Council reaffirms its determination to actively and intensively engage in support of this process.

2. The Council welcomes the continued presence of Operation Althea, focusing on capacity building and training while also retaining the capability to contribute to the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities’ deterrence capacity if the situation so requires. In this context, as part of the overall EU strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council confirms the EU’s readiness to continue at this stage an executive military role to support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities to maintain the safe and secure environment, under a renewed UN mandate.

3. It reiterates its agreement to keep the operation under regular review, including on the basis of the situation on the ground, with a view to making progress on the conditions conducive to
the delivery of its mandate.

4. The EU at the same time encourages the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the international community, to accelerate their efforts to address the disposal of excess ammunition and other outstanding issues.”