Kallas warns BiH must not “slip off” path as Schmidt resignation opens question of successor

Speaking after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Kallas said the Western Balkans remained a “strategic priority” for the European Union, with ministers giving political backing to deeper cooperation with the region on foreign, security and defence issues.

“The Western Balkans belong in the European Union,” Kallas said, adding that the steps discussed by ministers were “geared towards this goal.”

But Bosnia and Herzegovina featured separately in the discussion because of Schmidt’s announced departure from the Office of the High Representative, the international institution created under the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee civilian implementation of the peace deal.

“On Bosnia and Herzegovina, we discussed the announced resignation of the High Representative Schmidt,” Kallas said. “Ministers agree that it is the EU’s interest not to let the country slip off its EU path, and that we have to stick together in finding a successor.”