Bosnia and Herzegovina: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas

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Good day, everybody. 

It is good to be back in Sarajevo. It is the third time already in 16 months. This shows that the stability, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina are of strategic importance to the European Union. We remain committed to the country's EU path and to the security of the wider region. Over the past two days, I have engaged with political representatives and officials from all communities, and these talks have been good, frank, and open.

I want to briefly touch on some of the main issues that we covered. First the appointment of the next High Representative. I had hoped that when I come here, this process is concluded by now, but we are not there yet. On Tuesday, it was agreed that the current High Representative would step down and that his Deputy would serve on an interim basis until 14th of July, while the negotiations on a successor continue. Ultimately, the success of the Office of the High Representative will be measured by the day it is no longer needed. Until then, it remains an important pillar of stability. We are determined to find a European candidate who can help move Bosnia and Herzegovina forward on this European path. The fastest way to get rid of the international supervision is progress towards the European Union.

Shortly after this press conference, I will meet with the troops serving the operation for EUFOR ALTHEA. The mission remains the cornerstone of stability in the Western Balkans. Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina has held for three decades, but it is still not taken for granted. As last year's political crisis demonstrated, EUFOR ALTHEA remains essential, vigilant, and also ready to act. In parallel, we continue to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to assume greater responsibility for its own security. Through the European Peace Facility our support for the country's armed forces already totals €35 million.

I also discussed the country's path to European Union membership with my counterparts. Bosnia and Herzegovina's future lies in the European Union, and support to the EU accession across the country remains well above 70%, making it an aspiration that truly unites people. Recent developments show that EU’s doors remain wide open to new members. With Montenegro, we are drafting its Accession Treaty. Albania has opened the negotiating chapters. Ukraine and Moldova have just begun accession negotiations, and Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot afford to be left behind. 

Sustained reforms are the fastest and most effective way to advance the accession process. This window of opportunity for accession may not be open forever. EU membership is also the strongest guarantee against political instability and foreign interference.

I also raised our expectations for democratic, free, and fair elections in October. It is, of course, natural that every party wants to win, but political rhetoric must have boundaries.

And finally, on reforms, Bosnia and Herzegovina made good progress until 2024 but since then we have seen a worrying slowdown. Political divisions also stole progress. Bosnia and Herzegovina has already lost €108 million in EU funding, money that would have directly benefited your citizens. Without implementing the reform agenda and finalising the Growth Plan, Bosnia and Herzegovina risks losing an additional €370 million. Leaders must take responsibility and deliver results. 

The European Union remains your strongest partner. We will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina every step of the way, but progress depends on choices that are made here. 

So, thank you and I am happy to take your questions.

Q. Is it possible to reach an agreement on the High Representative by the 14th of July, and why is the European Union or certain European countries are so opposed to the appointment of the Italian candidate supported by the United States? 

We hope, and we are working on the European Union candidate for the next High Representative, because as we see the European path is something that unites everybody, and if we want to see the phase out of this international supervision, then actually the best way to do it is to sort of have this mandate limited, and also have this mandate limited to these topics that really concern also European accession. There have been many good candidates put forward, and this is of course the way that in the European Union we have many, but we are working on finding one candidate that would suit everybody.

Q. Has Bosnia and Herzegovina definitely lost the Growth plan funding with the summer break coming up, then the election campaign in the next step, at this point, I think we can all agree that the work of the national authorities is pretty much finished at this. Is there any chance still left?

Yes, it is true that the Growth Plan is also limited in time, and I was also stressing with local interlocutors that time is running out. The ratification of the Reform Agenda is something that is needed to move on with this. This is also something that the people will really benefit. These are investments to your infrastructure, to your energy systems, all the things that actually are needed. So, there is still time, and that is why I was also pushing this, that it will not be lost, and hopefully the local authorities find the compromises and can agree so that we can also disburse this funding.

Q. With all due respect, that we are at the end tail of the accession process, we are losing money, not doing anything about reforms. We know that very well, but the European Union, not you personally, but the European Union never wants to put the blame on specific persons. Sometimes we feel that you are protecting those who are to be held responsible. 

The blame game does not really help anybody, so our focus is that we would have and we would see results. You have elections coming, like I said, the polls show that 74% of your citizens support the European Union accession. This should be also clearly translated into the support of these people who clearly are also making steps towards this path. I think this is something that is in the democratic process up to your people to say. 

Q. You mentioned the foreign interference in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or in the region. Russia and China are expanding their economic and political influence across the Western Balkans, particularly in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Does the EU have a concrete plan or strategy to countering this influence? We have seen that our plan is not working.

Yes, thank you for that question. Yes, we have very good toolbox to fight the FIMI, like we call it, the foreign information manipulation and interference. We have seen this delivering good results in Moldova. Also, we have now put in place some tools for the Western Balkan countries to use. Because when I have met with leaders from the Western Balkan countries, they always stress that we need to also see the same kind of help to fight back the foreign interference. What we have to keep in mind is that, again, why this interference is that it is also to really obstruct the way to the European Union, and for the reforms. So that is why we can make these tools that we are having available in the European Union also to our candidate countries, to our Western Balkan partners. Of course, so far, we have also looked into specific needs, because every country is different, every country has different problems. So of course, we are willing to put our toolbox into use when necessary.

Q. You also met with the Madam Chair of the Council of Ministers, Ms Krišto. In the press release from the Council of Ministers, the media were informed of the deliverables since your last visit today, but what is still missing is the appointment of the Chief Negotiator. Did Madam Krišto provide any reasoning why are we still without the Chief Negotiator?

Of course we discussed this. There are two big issues: one is the judicial reforms, and the other one is appointing the Chief Negotiator. Of course, Madam Chair was explaining where we are in this, but again we were stressing from our side that we need to find solutions. We need to find solutions to move on in this process. We have, during this visit, also come up with some creative ideas, but we need to develop them further ourselves to propose maybe they could help also Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward on this track. Because it is in our interest as well that you proceed. 

Link to video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-291717