Austrian Justice Minister Alma Zadic is paying a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday and Tuesday to support the country on its path to the European Union. According to Austrian media, she is first scheduled to meet with her Bosnian counterpart Josip Grubesa, to sign a joint declaration focused on strengthening the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

The Kurier daily reported that the Austrian government is advocating for Bosnia and Herzegovina being granted the EU candidate status, although the global focus is currently on Ukraine.

Prior to the potential accession, however, important reforms would have to be implemented, which currently “often falter or even show regressive tendencies.”

On Monday afternoon, Zadic will also meet with the President of Bosnia's top judicial body, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) Halil Lagumdzija and the international peace envoy, High Representative Christian Schmidt.

On Tuesday, she is scheduled to participate in the panel discussion ‘Quo vadis BiH? EU accession, rule of law, youth, environment’ in Sarajevo, alongside legal expert Nedima Ademovic and Leila Bicakcic, the head of the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIN).