Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political leaders are expected to engage in the formation of the governments at all levels by working constructively together in the interest of the citizens of their country, European Union (EU) senior officials Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn said on Monday in a joint statement.

“At the general election in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 7, citizens exercised their democratic right in a calm and orderly manner and voted on the political authorities who will have to work through the many challenges ahead and take the country forward on the path towards the European Union,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn.

They urged the authorities “to assume their responsibilities.”

“The conduct and the effective implementation of the general election will be taken into account in the Opinion on the merits of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for EU membership the Commission is preparing,” said the officials, adding that Bosnia took a strategic role when it submitted the EU membership application in February 2016 to “embark irrevocably on the EU integration path and to uphold and promote EU values.”

They believe this new mandate can be an opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate, both to their citizens and to the EU, “a renewed commitment and determination to take forward all the reforms needed to advance on the EU path”.

Bosnia's general election took place on Sunday when the citizens cast their ballots for the members of the state Presidency, RS president and vice presidents as well as the members of the state, entity and cantonal parliaments. The Central Election Commission (CEC) said the voter turnout was 53.36 percent.