European Union's senior official Josep Borrell said following the meeting of the EU foreign ministers on Monday that the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina got a clear message with the European Commission's recommendation for the country's EU candidate status and that this opportunity has to be seized.

Addressing media after the meeting, EU High Representative said the Foreign Affairs Council discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the recently held election and the country's EU path.
He said that, according to the OSCE/ODIHR reports, the general elections were competitive and well organised but were also marked by “quite a strong mistrust in public institutions.

“The final results are still to be certified. The allegations of widespread electoral fraud have triggered recount of ballots to the Republika Srpska President race and this recounting will take place,” he noted.

Borrell also called for swift formation of authorities and emphasised the importance of the country's EU path.

“But we need to keep Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European Union path. That's why European Commission recommended last week to grant a candidate status to BiH on the understanding that a certain number of steps are taken,” he stressed.

This, he added, a clear message to BiH authorities.

“First, they must be swiftly setting up at all levels both the government and legislative authorities and, secondly, they have to focus on delivering reforms, These are the matter of the absolute priority. There is a window of opportunity and new push for the process of BiH towards EU, and this occasion has to be seized by the politically responsible authorities of the country,” underlined Borrell.

European Commission recently recommended that Bosnia and Herzegovina is granted a candidate status, setting as a priority a set of reforms primarily in judicial sector.