The EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), the permanent EU body tasked to define EU foreign and security policy and to give guidance to the EU missions and operations, met today with Valentin Inzko, the EU Special Representative in Sarajevo today.

In his meeting Inzko told the PSC ambassadors that the political stalemate of the last four years must not be repeated. He pointed out that BiH needs rapid government formation and a fresh start. EUSR Inzko stressed that “visa liberalization was not just a warm welcome for BiH citizens to travel to Europe; it also showed that Bosnia and Herzegovina can meet international conditions when its leaders make an effort.”

The PSC came on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet with local political leaders, BiH Judiciary and civil society representatives, and the EU agencies in BiH. The members of the PSC highlighted that the EU remains committed to fostering the emergence of a functional, prosperous and modern democracy in BiH, one which is capable of securing eventual EU membership.

The EU foreign and security policy representatives stressed that BiH needs responsible governments that deliver progress and leaders who are prepared to make difficult compromises. In their meetings they have said that the EU will not accept any challenges to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH, or any roll-back of reforms that have been undertaken to move the country closer to the EU. The EU is ready to move forward with BiH in a constructive and creative way, and to deliver when the necessary conditions have been met

In their meetings the ambassadors of the PSC have been highlighting three areas that should be priorities for the newly elected political leadership in BiH: first, Constitutional reform addressing the discriminatory provisions identified in the European Court of Human Rights ruling in Sejdic-Finci vs. BiH and improving decision-making in order to put BiH in a position to be able to adopt, implement and enforce steps required to promote the country’s integration into the EU; second, the urgent need to resolve the state property issue; and third, that BIH needs to be able to conduct a state-level census in 2011.

During the meetings, they conveyed the message that the EU, together with the overall international community in BiH, will continue to help the newly elected authorities get the country back on the road of reform and progress towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration.