International community's High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt met with top Croat politician Dragan Covic to discuss priorities on the country's path to the European Union membership with election integrity as one of the main issues, according to the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

“Constructive exchange with HDZ BiH leader Dragan Covic on political developments in BiH and necessary legislation related to EU priorities, with emphasis on election integrity, rule of law, and enabling BiH to officially launch membership negotiations with the EU this spring,” the OHR briefly said.

During the latest meeting late December, European Council greenlighted the start of accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova, putting the decision on Bosnia on hold until March this year under the condition that the country conducts necessary reforms.

Schmidt- Covic meeting comes a day after the High Representative met with representatives of the Central Eelction Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss the integrity of election process.

Schmidt announced in December he would use his special executive powers to impose changes on the Election Law with an aim to strengthen the integrity of elections if the State Parliament fails to do it before.

The House of Representatives adopted the law changes, but the MPs of Milorad Dodik's SNSD party and Dragan Covic's HDZ BiH party did not vote in their favour.

The two parties have a capacity to block the law changes in the House of Peoples, the upper chamber which needs to confirm all laws before they come into force.

Dodik earlier said that Republika Srpska entity would pass its own electoral law if Schmidt imposes changes to the Election Law of BiH.