Prague (3 December) – Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle chaired another round of political consultations aimed at finding the solutions for the open issues on Bosnia and Herzegovina´s way to the European Union in Prague. After the meeting, which ended in the early hours of Tuesday he said:

“After around 16 hours of talks with the leaders of seven main political parties from Bosnia and Herzegovina, I can announce some positive progress. Here in Prague, we continued our consultations on the implementation of the Sejdic-Finci ruling: in particular the election of the Delegates of the House of Peoples and the members of the Presidency.  I am glad that the leaders were able to tentatively agree on the composition and method of the selection of Delegates for the House of Peoples. We have also achieved some important progress on the main principles for the election of the members of the Presidency. Now, it is necessary that the political leaders remain committed and continue their efforts to find the solution on the last remaining element for the election of the Members of the Presidency. Only then Bosnia and Herzegovina can start to move again on its European path. Let me conclude by appreciating the determination of the leaders to continue to look for solutions which could bring the country back on European track. I am determined after consultations with the High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton to send our colleagues back to BiH soon, to continue the dialogue with political leaders in the country. And if there is an emerging deal on that remaining element, I can say that we have an understanding about our next meeting and the place of that meeting.”

Statement by Commissioner Füle and political leaders: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I084323