High Representative and EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko met Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, European External Action Service, Miroslav Lajčák yesterday in Sarajevo for discussions on the current political situation in BiH.

HR/EUSR Inzko informed Lajčák about the current situation in forming the authorities at all levels, and expressed particular concern about the delays in forming the Federation authorities and the BiH Council of Ministers.

“BiH needs functioning authorities at all levels as soon as possible. The current situation has detrimental consequences for the citizens of the entire country,” HR/EUSR Inzko said. “The lack of functioning authorities in the past five months has also prevented the resumption of necessary reforms needed for European integration,” said HR/EUSR Inzko. BiH cannot afford further delays and it now risks falling further behind the other countries in the region.”

Lajčák reiterated that the EU Foreign Ministers have seriously discussed the reinforced engagement of the EU in BiH. There are concrete plans to strengthen the EU’s presence and policies in BiH. He added that “the EU remains committed to helping BiH on its road to Europe, but that the responsibility for the situation in BiH lies with the political leaders. They must now ensure that governments, which will focus on the EU-agenda, are formed with urgency.”