The European Union’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina was clearly reaffirmed during recent visits to BiH by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, and by the Foreign Ministers of Spain and Italy and other senior EU officials, said EU Special Representative to BiH Valentin Inzko in Brussels today, but only the citizens and political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina can create the right political climate to take their country forward, he added.

The EUSR was speaking at a meeting of the Political and Security Committee, a key EU foreign policy body that brings together ambassadors of the 27 member states.

Referring to the EU’s long-term commitment towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its intention to further reinforce its presence in the country, the EUSR encouraged ongoing preparations for this reinforced EU engagement. “Changes to the EU’s foreign policy institutions as part of the Lisbon Treaty provide us with a good opportunity in this respect”, he noted.

This reinforced engagement, the EUSR stressed, is the Union’s responsibility; but it is also the EU’s role to restate that it is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s responsibility, especially that of its leaders’, to overcome the current political stalemate which the country is experiencing. The result, in practice, has been that very few reforms – reforms which are much needed – are actually being passed and implemented by the authorities. Only by changing this political situation will BiH be able to move forward. The EU is ready to assist for progress to be made.

The EUSR today pointed out that while the internal dynamic in BiH is not currently constructive, the country’s neighbors, on the other hand, represented genuine partners. Recent visits to BiH by Presidents Tadic and Josipovic have demonstrated that there was opportunity, and readiness to further develop dialogue and regional cooperation. These, the EUSR stressed, are core elements of the EU.