The European Union is determined to find a strong candidate for the post of international peace envoy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday. This comes after a German diplomat resigned in May under what he described as U.S. pressure.

Background

Last month, countries failed to reach a consensus on a successor for Christian Schmidt as high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a post with wide powers in the country since the 1990s under international agreements that ended war there.

The role has always been held by a European, with a U.S. deputy. The U.S. has made clear that it wants a new envoy with a more limited mandate, supporting Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi for the job, while most European countries supported French diplomat Rene Troccaz.

The United States has said it would reconsider its role in Bosnia and Herzegovina unless its preferred candidate is approved. Earlier this week, Schmidt’s deputy Louis Crishock was named as the acting high representative until a new envoy is appointed by July 14 at the latest.

Reform Progress

Bosnia is at the bottom of a queue of the Western Balkan hopefuls aspiring to join the EU, as it has stalled its reform progress due to political blockades over the past two years. Kallas emphasized that sustained reforms are the fastest and most effective way to advance the accession process.

Bosnia had already lost €108 million in EU funding from the bloc’s €6 billion growth plan for the region and was facing the risk of losing an additional €370 million unless it proceeds with necessary reforms.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.