The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said she expected Bosnia and Herzegovina to make “irreversible progress” towards the EU by the end of the year, the EU official’s office said on Tuesday following a meeting with Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency.

Federica Mogherini responded to the Presidency members’ joint message of commitment to the country’s EU path, welcoming their decision to work together and stressing that all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit from that unity.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bosnia’s Presidency members said there was a consensus in the country on its EU integration and they expressed hope Bosnia would win the status of a candidate by November 1, by the time the new European Commission assumes office.

Post-election formation of the governments at all levels and answering the European Commission’s Questionnaire, as a step forward to the membership, were highlighted in the meeting as top priorities for Bosnia at the moment.

“The High Representative and the Presidency members agreed on the importance of seeing the country’s Council of Ministers and all entity governments formed without delay, so that they can address the many challenges that lie ahead,” said Mogherini’s office.

“Equally, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to submit swiftly all the replies to the questionnaire for the European Commission to finalise its opinion on the country's EU membership application.”

Bosnia's tripartite members are set to meet on Wednesday the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and the European Council President.