EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell spoke on Friday in separate phone calls with political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegovic, Dragan Covic, and Milorad Dodik, urging them to resume a “serious and meaningful dialogue” to ensure a long-term and sustainable resolution to the current political crisis.

Borrell reiterated EU’s readiness, together with the US, to continue engaging in “facilitating a balanced agreement, which addresses the concerns of all the parties and which would be in line with EU standards and would allow the country to advance on its EU path.”

According to the statement issued by the European External Action Service following the talks, the High Representative also urged the relevant parties to show political courage and determination for an agreement to be found in time to be implemented for the upcoming October general election.

He recalled of the EU’s “unequivocal commitment” to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the readiness to use all the instruments in its toolbox available to help the country overcome the current political crisis and refocus fully on the reforms needed in line with the country’s EU perspective.

Borrell also announced that on 21 February the Foreign Affairs Council would discuss in depth all the aspects of the situation in BiH.