The government formation in Bosnia is crucial for the country's integration in the European Union (EU), the EU Delegation and the Office of the EU Special Representative in Sarajevo told N1, welcoming the agreement that the leaders of three strongest parties recently reached towards that goal and stressing that the responsibility is now with the leaders to implement the deal.

“In its Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU membership application adopted in May 2019, the European Commission recommends to the EU Council to discuss the Opinion and its recommendations after the formation of governments,” the EU Delegation recalled.

“Given the prolonged stalemate in forming the authorities, the EU Special Representative (EUSR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina has in line with his mandate facilitated the political process by encouraging and promoting dialogue between political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The leaders of three strongest parties among Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats agreed earlier this month on a set of principles to form the state-level government, seemingly overcoming their major disagreement – NATO integration, which was preventing the government formation process since the October last year.

While the Serbs strongly object the country's membership in the Alliance, maintaining the stance on military neutrality, the Bosniaks and the Croats advocate for it.

The disagreement directly affected the formation of the state-level government, which has not been formed ten months after the last October's election.

The EU membership remained the unquestionable commitment, the leaders said, but as for NATO, the agreed principles confirmed “the commitment for advancing the relationship with NATO without predicting future decisions in relation to membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The EU welcomed the agreement “as an important step forward and a compromise reached by the signatories.”

“While the EU stands ready to continue to facilitate, the responsibility is now with local leaders to move forward and implement it within the 30-day deadline, which they agreed to,” said the EU's office, adding that the deal should provide a basis for “swift formation of authorities and stable functioning of all institutions.”