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A board responsible for appointing Bosnia and Herzegovina's next international High Representative met in Sarajevo on Wednesday as European and U.S. officials remain divided over the future scope and powers of the post.
The steering board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), the international body tasked with overseeing implementation of the 1995 Dayton peace agreement, convened to discuss the successor to outgoing High Representative Christian Schmidt, who resigned in May.
If the PIC reaches a consensus, the name of the new high representative is expected to be announced on Thursday.
The position, established after Bosnia's 1992-1995 war, carries extensive authority, including the power to impose laws and dismiss elected officials deemed to be undermining the peace process.
Schmidt, a German diplomat, used those powers notably in clashes with Milorad Dodik, the former president of Republika Srpska and a Moscow ally.
His resignation came amid what he described as "huge and unexpected" pressure from Washington.
The future of the office has become a source of disagreement among international stakeholders.
Russia called in May for the immediate closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) during a United Nations Security Council session on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The United States supports maintaining the position but favors a gradual transfer of authority to domestic institutions under the next envoy.
Within Bosnia, Serb and Croat political leaders have long argued that the office should either be abolished or have its powers significantly reduced.
Bosniak officials, however, insist that the high representative's discretionary powers remain necessary to safeguard the country's constitutional order and political stability.
Bosnia remains divided between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska under the framework established by the Dayton Agreement, with limited powers vested in central state institutions.
Two names have emerged as leading candidates in recent weeks.
One is Antonio Zanardi Landi, a former Italian ambassador to Moscow and Belgrade who is reportedly backed by Washington.
The other is Rene Troccaz, who has served as France's special envoy for the Western Balkans since 2023.
European officials have stressed that the next high representative should support Bosnia's European integration path.
During a visit to Sarajevo on Monday, European Council President Antonio Costa said it was important that the future officeholder "embodies Bosnia and Herzegovina's choice to pursue European Union accession."
Costa's remarks came during the first stop of his Western Balkans tour ahead of this week's EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro.
Speaking in Sarajevo, he urged Bosnia and Herzegovina to accelerate reforms needed to advance its EU accession process.
“You are only a few steps away from the next tangible phase in the opening of accession negotiations – now is the time to focus on your goal and accelerate the pace of reforms,” Costa said.
He argued that Bosnia could make rapid progress if it aligned more closely with EU legislation.
“The road ahead is demanding but there are some low-hanging fruits to seize if you deliver on the alignment with the European Union legislation,” he said.
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Costa specifically called on Bosnian authorities to adopt the two remaining reforms of the judiciary system and appoint a chief negotiator for accession talks.
Reiterating that EU membership remains a sovereign choice for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa described enlargement as a strategic investment in peace, stability and security across Europe.
His visit comes as Brussels seeks to reinvigorate the enlargement process ahead of the June 5 EU-Western Balkans Summit, which is expected to bring together senior EU and regional leaders in Tivat.
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