- The European Union welcomes the holding of general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2 October. Ensuring that elections are conducted in line with European standards is a key priority set out in the Commission Opinion on the EU membership application of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, the elections were overall competitive and well organised, but were also marked by mistrust of citizens in public institutions and by ethnically divisive rhetoric.
- The EU takes note of the Central Election Commission’s order for a number of recounts of the ballots in the Republika Srpska and the Federation. It is important that allegations of irregularities are addressed in order to ensure the highest confidence in the election results and the election administration, and the integrity and transparency of the elections. The EU calls on all sides in Bosnia and Herzegovina to fully respect the independence of the Central Electoral Commission.
- Following the verification of election results, the EU expects all political actors to take full responsibility and cooperate to swiftly set up functioning legislatures and governments at State, entity and cantonal levels to focus on reforms on the EU path, to which Bosnia and Herzegovina’s party leaders committed in Brussels on 12 June, including constitutional and electoral reform. To this end, the EU calls for a spirit of cooperation among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s newly elected leaders.
- Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina exercised their democratic right to vote for the authorities, who will now have the responsibility to deliver on the people’s aspirations, including on EU integration and economic prosperity, and on coping with the negative global impact of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
- The EU reiterates its unequivocal commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country.
The Candidate Countries REPUBLIC OF TÜRKIYE, REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, SERBIA*, ALBANIA*, and REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, the Potential Candidate Country GEORGIA, and the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
* Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.