During his two-day visit to BiH, Koopman sought to persuade the country’s politicians to reach compromises and continue on the European path, which has been stalled since March when the European Council formally approved the opening of accession negotiations, contingent upon the adoption of additional reform laws.

However, none of the required laws have been adopted so far, and an agreement has yet to be reached on a reform programme necessary to access €6 billion provided through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

During separate meetings with politicians in Sarajevo, Koopman urged them not to squander this opportunity, the EU Delegation to BiH said in a statement on Tuesday.

“He urged decision makers to resolve the outstanding issues that have prevented the country’s authorities from finalising the Reform Agenda, thus eventually enabling Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive funding under the Reform and Growth Facility of the Growth Plan, should the Reform Agenda be approved by the European Commission,” the statement said.

Koopman’s visit came at the start of a week in which BiH politicians are expected to demonstrate whether they are ready to implement last week’s agreement reached at a meeting in Banja Luka to unblock the reform process. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Sarajevo.

The Chairwoman of the Presidency of BiH, Zeljka Cvijanovic, who also met with Koopman, expressed optimism about the possibility of progress. “I think we are on the right track to reach final solutions.”

She noted that two out of the 113 reform measures insisted upon by the European Commission remain contentious but believes an agreement can be reached while respecting BiH’s constitutional framework.

The authorities in Republika Srpska previously rejected Brussels’ request to promptly fill two vacant seats in BiH’s Constitutional Court, which are appointed by that entity’s parliament. The entity’s President, Milorad Dodik, dismissed a bill on courts, which would place the seat of the Appeals Department of the Court of BiH in East Sarajevo, insisting it should be located in Banja Luka.

BiH authorities had hoped to open accession negotiations by the end of the year but have yet to appoint a chief negotiator. They have only agreed that the position should respect the ethnic balance in state institutions, meaning it would currently be held by a representative of the Serb community.