The Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Key Developments and Regional Outlook

On May 11, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) New York Office and the Hanns Seidel Foundation Washington DC Office hosted Christian Schmidt, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for a high-level discussion with representatives of the United Nations (UN), Member States, and expert community. Ahead of the Security Council’s semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Schmidt briefed on the latest report of the Office of the High Representative, providing an assessment on recent developments in and ongoing challenges facing the country.

Discussion underscored the following takeaways:

• The security situation is Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stable but fragile, with this tenuous balance having resulted from rising nationalism. Divisive rhetoric and actions further threaten to undermine social cohesion and create fertile ground for inter-ethnic conflict. 

• The stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina—and Western Balkans more broadly—lies in EU integration. As such, implementing the reform agenda remains critical to achieving economic growth for the country and region. However, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress on this front has stalled, this is not so much an issue of the capability of its administrative structures, but rather, a lack of political will and confidence in its state institutions to deliver reforms.

• While peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina have not yet been fully realized, the international community must not lose sight of the importance of the Office of the High Representative and Peace Implementation Council in following through with the Dayton Peace Agreement. Similarly, an international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains vital until the country can successfully implement the 5+2 agenda.