Angelina Eichhorst, European External Action Service Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey visited Bosnia and Herzegovina on 19 October 2016 and met with representatives of the BiH leadership and institutions, COM EUFOR and COM NATO HQ Sa.

Director Eichhorst discussed the EU integration process of BiH, domestic developments and foreign and security policy issues following the Council Conclusions on BiH of 20 September and 17 October 2016 and stressed that: “BiH has opened a new chapter in its integration process. I welcome the progress achieved and I encourage the BiH leadership and institutions to continue moving the country forward. The Opinion process, the continued implementation of the Reform Agenda, including the rule of law reforms and foreign and security policy issues will require further concerted efforts by the BiH authorities. The EU stands ready to continue assisting BiH on its EU integration path.”

Director Eichhorst referred to the EU Global Strategy for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy presented by HR/VP Federica Mogherini in June 2016, underlining the common challenges the European Union and the Western Balkans are facing, particularly referring to addressing resilience and radicalisation and the need for irreversible progress in the region.