The EU and the US have led facilitation of intensive talks between political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on a comprehensive package of constitutional and electoral reform at senior officials level for the past months. High Representative Josep Borrell during his visit to Sarajevo last week, engaged with political leaders to encourage them to make the final step towards finding an agreement. Technical talks continued for the following days.

While important progress was made on all the elements of the reform in these talks, the parties could not reach consensus, on which they would put draft legal amendments to Parliament for discussions and a final vote.

The EU regrets that yet again a key opportunity has been missed for BiH to resolve longstanding issues. These reforms are also urgently needed to make a leap forward on BiH’s EU path, addressing the key priorities from the Commission Opinion on the EU membership application.

The EU/US facilitated talks now have been exhausted at senior officials level. 

It is important that the discussions continue in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular to finalise the set of amendments  aimed to improve the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, in line with European standards and that the public debate around these amendments starts. 

General elections are to be held in October as scheduled, in line with the constitutional and legislative framework in place, to allow citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

In these times, when Europe is facing unparalleled challenge to its security, BiH leaders have a particular responsibility to respond to the aspirations of BiH citizens, and do what it takes to preserve peace and security, and to ensure functionality, as well as protect the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH.