The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, addressed the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the European Union in Brussels this morning and met with Javier Solana, the European Union’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and representatives of the European Commission this afternoon.

In his PSC address, Mr Schwarz-Schilling provided an assessment of the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the failure to agree key reforms. “Little progress has been made in fulfilling the outstanding requirements for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement,” Mr Schwarz-Schilling told the PSC. “Political leaders and the general public must know that Bosnia and Herzegovina will fall behind if action is not taken.”

Mr Schwarz-Schilling also called on the European Union to maintain its engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing the importance to stability of the ongoing presence of both the EU Police Mission and EUFOR.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative briefed key decision-makers in Brussels on ongoing preparations for resuming the process of constitutional reform. He stressed the importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina of the creation within the country’s institutions of a constitutional reform process that would provide political parties, parliament, and civil society with a forum for debating the issues involved in reforming the constitution.

“The EU Special Representative has a major role to advise and facilitate on constructional reform, in partnership with the United States. I see this as one of the key tasks for my successor,” he said.

Following his talks in Brussels, the High Representative and EU Special Representative will travel to Washington next week, where he will meet with senior State Department Officials. From Washington, he will to travel to New York, where he will address the UN Security Council.