Bosnia Herzegovina. Recommendation to the Council

The Council held a policy debate on the Western Balkans in which the situation in Bosnia Herzegovina was discussed. It welcomed progress in the region and reaffirmed the EU’s fair and rigorous conditionality policy as set out in the Stabilisation and Association Process as well as the Thessaloniki Agenda.

In this context, the Council also recalled the relevant parts of the European Council conclusions of December 2005 and June 2006, including full co-operation with the ICTY. To support progress the Council called for a swift and effective implementation of the priorities identified in the European Partnerships, which will continue to play a key role in guiding closer union with the Community.

As far as Bosnia and Herzegovina specifically are concerned, while noting progress made on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Council regretted that a number of important issues remain to be tackled by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Council recalled that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s performance in all of the areas set out in the General Affairs and External Relations Council will be jointly reviewed by the Council and the Commissions before negotiations can be concluded. The Council called upon all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to work together, as soon as possible, in order to overcome any remaining obstacles.