EU Pledges to Resolve Bosnia Envoy Deadlock as Accession Reforms Stall
The European Union has vowed to break the deadlock over appointing a new international peace envoy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as political divisions continue to delay reforms needed for the country’s EU accession.
Speaking during a visit to Sarajevo, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is committed to finding a strong European candidate to replace former High Representative Christian Schmidt, who stepped down earlier this year.
The appointment has become a source of tension between Brussels and Washington. The United States supports Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi for the role, while most EU countries back French diplomat René Troccaz. Acting High Representative Louis Crishock will remain in the post until a successor is chosen, with a decision expected by 14 July.
Kallas stressed that Bosnia’s progress towards EU membership depends on sustained political and economic reforms, warning that delays have already cost the country €108 million in EU funding and could put a further €370 mln at risk.
Bosnia remains the slowest-moving EU candidate in the Western Balkans, with reform efforts repeatedly blocked by political divisions between the country’s Bosniak, Croat and Serb leaders.
