Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in Sarajevo on Friday that the European Union would not leave Bosnia and Herzegovina, and hinted that this country should be given somewhat milder criteria for its accession to the EU.

The Austrian chancellor paid an official visit and met with Bosnia and Herzegovina's senior officials.

After the talks, he said that Bosnia was an important partner to Austria as well as to the EU, particularly in the context of security issues.

“Europe is present in Bosnia and Herzegovina through EUFOR and it is important for us to preserve peace and security. Bosnia has not and will not be left alone,” Nehammer said, underscoring Vienna's unequivocal support to Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He pushed for “honest talks” about the existing challenges and to define possibilities for Bosnia and other western Balkan countries becoming members of the EU.

When it comes to BiH, excessively strict criteria should not be applied and he announced talks with Germany's representatives on this matter.

Nehammer said that the current challenges such as energy and food price hikes are troubling everybody and these problems cannot be solved without cooperation or solidarity.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Prime Minister Zoran Tegeltija said that Sarajevo continues to count on Austria's support to its efforts to be awarded the status of a candidate for EU membership.