High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak met today with Council of Ministers Chair, Nikola Spiric. During their working meeting they discussed issues that need to be addressed by the Council of Ministers.

High Representative/EU Special Representative and Prime Minister Spiric discussed how the country will meet the institutional and legislative requirements set out in the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan on Police Reform agreements.

The High Representative emphasized that the process agreed to by BiH’s political leaders must be lead by the country’s institutions. The High Representative/EU Special Representative informed Prime Minister Spiric that the EUSR. EUPM and the US are ready to monitor this process as set out by the EC’s Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn. Last week Commissioner Rehn called on EUSR and EUPM to follow the development of police reform legislation to ensure that the three EU principles are met.

At the meeting they also discussed a process that will finally bring about an agreement on the ownership and use of state property.

“The Steering Board has instructed me to undertake all appropriate measures to bring this issue to a conclusion”, the High Representative/EU Special Representative told Prime Minister Nikola Spiric at a meeting in Sarajevo today.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative and the Prime Minister agreed that progress was needed on the transfer of property needed for defence purposes as required by the BiH Defence Law.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative and the Prime Minister agreed that the Defence property transfer process, agreed to in July this year by State and Entity Prime Ministers, must move forward.