The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, and the Head of the EU Police Mission in BiH, Vincenzo Coppola, met in Sarajevo today to discuss ways to take police reform forward and open the door to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

Concrete progress on police restructuring in September is required for Bosnia and Herzegovina not to fall further behind neighbouring countries on the path to Europe.

“There is no greater immediate priority for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the High Representative and EU Special Representative said. “For the European Union the issue is straightforward. We have done our part of the job and are now waiting for Bosnia and Herzegovina to fulfil the necessary reforms to meet requirements for signing an SAA.”

Police restructuring is one of the outstanding reforms required for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be able to sign an SAA with the European Union. It is a technical issue that could be resolved quickly.

“Police reform is crucial not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European future, but also for the security of its citizens,” General Coppola said. “Police reform will bring more structured and territorially efficient police forces. The EUPM will continue to support the police reform process.”

General Coppola also made a presentation on the wider work of the EUPM in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative and General Coppola agreed to work closely together to advance the police-reform process and other related issues.