(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 16 OTT - At the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxemburg, EU foreign Ministers confirmed "the EU's readiness to continue at this stage the executive military role of Operation Althea to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's authorities to maintain the safe and secure environment, under a renewed UN mandate". In their conclusions, ministers welcome " the continued presence of Operation Althea".

The EU commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU perspective "as a single, united and sovereign country" is "unequivocal", the EU Foreign ministers write in their conclusions.
However, the Council regrets that "a divisive rhetoric rooted in the past and an early electoral agenda have over the last months slowed down the pace of reform and affected the political climate".

Hence the EU Foreign ministers urge Sarajevo to speed up the implementation of the reforms and ask the authorities to step up their efforts, notably with regard to the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as the fight against terrorism and the prevention of radicalisation.
The Council encourages Bosnia to answer the European Commission questionnaire, a key passage for Sarajevo to obtain the EU candidate status. (ANSA).