Catherine Ashton: Bosnia needs to address EU-related reforms urgently

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, and Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement:

“We are deeply concerned about the continued lack of progress in the government formation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in particular about the situation in the Federation. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leadership needs urgently to overcome their differences. A solution, which respects the priorities of all sides concerned, is within reach. We welcome and fully support the facilitation efforts of the office of HR/EUSR Valentin Inzko in this regard.

Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot afford to lose more time. The political leaders must urgently address EU-related reforms as a matter of priority if the country is to take steps forward on its European integration path. For this to happen, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs representative, broad and solid governments at all levels to tackle the outstanding issues in this regard.”