This morning, the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, met in Sarajevo with Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Chris Patten, the European Commissioner for External Relations.
They discussed current affairs related to the Dayton peace process, such as the municipal elections, the re-establishment of the Council of Ministers, return and property law implementation, the establishment of public service broadcasting, economic reform, donor support and the implementation of the EU Road Map.
They agreed on the urgent need of more progress particularly in the fields of economic reform and property law implementation, and on the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration in Europe.
The High Representative thanked Mr Solana and Mr Patten for the EU’s financial support of the peace process, and stressed the importance of flexible funding and the application of the principle of conditionality.
The three officials also discussed preparations for the upcoming conference of the Peace Implementation Council at the ministerial level on May 23 and 24 in Brussels, which will be co-hosted by the Portuguese EU Presidency, the European Commission and the EU High Representative Solana.
The EU High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten expressed their full support of the strategy of the High Representative and his Office.