European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to peace, stability and the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that the country’s experience offers important lessons for Europe in preserving peace and building resilient institutions.
Speaking during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kallas praised the role of EUFOR Althea in maintaining security over the past three decades, describing the EU-led military mission as a cornerstone of the country’s lasting peace, News.Az reports, citing Kallas’s X account.
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“Peace has endured for 31 years because it is enforceable,” Kallas said, thanking EUFOR troops for their contribution to maintaining a safe and secure environment. She noted that European forces, alongside international partners, have remained on the ground since the Dayton Peace Agreement came into force.
Highlighting EUFOR Althea’s rapid response capabilities, Kallas recalled the deployment of hundreds of additional troops in March last year amid political tensions triggered by calls for Bosnian Serb officials to withdraw from central police and judicial institutions.
“Our message was clear: the European Union will always do what we can for the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the stability of the region,” she said.
Kallas also underlined the continuing importance of the Office of the High Representative, noting that while a new High Representative is expected to assume office soon, the mission remains essential as Bosnia and Herzegovina prepares for elections later this year.
She described the country’s security situation as “calm but fragile,” warning that the upcoming elections could increase political polarization. The EU, she said, hopes to see a High Representative capable of uniting the country and gradually reducing the need for international oversight.
The EU’s foreign policy chief also emphasized the importance of unity among international partners, describing EUFOR Althea as a successful example of EU-NATO cooperation. She credited the alignment between Europe and the United States following the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement with helping Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthen the rule of law, combat corruption and build democratic institutions.
“The Dayton Accords succeeded because the US and Europe were aligned,” Kallas said, adding that continued cooperation remains the best guarantee for the country’s long-term stability.
Turning to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration, Kallas stressed that ending conflict is only the first step, while building an effective state requires strong institutions, democratic checks and balances, and capable national defence forces.
She announced that the European Union allocated an additional €15 million in May to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defence capabilities, bringing the bloc’s overall support to €30 million, with further assistance under consideration.
Kallas pointed to growing public support for EU membership, noting that more than 74 percent of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens favor joining the bloc.
She highlighted the EU’s investments in infrastructure and development, including hundreds of kilometres of upgraded motorways linking the country with the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe, the addition of 400 megawatts of electricity generation capacity to the national grid, and improvements to water and sanitation services benefiting more than half a million people.
However, Kallas warned that slow progress on reforms is putting financial support at risk.
Under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, nearly €1 billion was initially earmarked for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to delays in implementing reforms, the country has already lost more than €100 million in funding, with an additional €370 million at risk unless reforms accelerate.
“When political progress stalls, people pay the price,” she said.
Kallas stressed that EU membership remains an achievable goal, pointing to ongoing accession negotiations with Montenegro and Albania, as well as recent negotiations with Ukraine and progress in Moldova’s accession process.
“We do not want to see Bosnia and Herzegovina left behind,” she said.
Concluding her address, Kallas said the European Union’s support is guided by the principles of the rule of law, sovereignty and human dignity.
“These are not European values. These are not even Western values. These are universal values that are worth defending every single day,” she said.
She thanked EUFOR personnel for their service, telling them they could “be proud” of their work in safeguarding peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
