The European Union`a foreign ministers have decided to establish a new strategy, which would lead to EU`s full responsibility acceptance in "maintaining stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and continuing with key reforms". After attempts in convincing three constitutive nations` leaders two years ago that the only way for establishing effective government is through reforms, EU`s officials have decided to change their tactics. Suggesting that the Office of High Representative (OHR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina should be closed and confirming the EU Special Representative, European officials desire transformations and intend to inspire Bosnian leaders to move toward political consensus on future of the country.

The document, comprised of six articles on comprehensive EU`s strategy toward Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was created by EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, and it was unanimously accepted by all EU` foreign ministers. But it is the decision of the Peace Implementation Council that may put an end to the OHR, after 13 years of monitoring the enforcement of Dayton Agreement.

Despite the suggestions on the OHR abolishing, Rehn and Solana claim that Bosnia still faces with "exceptional challenges", adding that the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement "has not, unfortunately, prevented political situation worsening in the past several months".

"BiH`s leaders must turn their promises on their EU future into practice in order to attain particular results", believe Solana and Rehn, stressing that BiH has to demonstrate more political responsibility. Yet, it is absolutely clear, on the basis of all six articles, that European officials will need more than political responsibilities of Bosnian leaders in order to accomplish plans.

All politicians in BiH agree equally on European integration, which will facilitate the implementation of the Document`s first article - EU`s reinforced engagement and responsibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But the second article, which in fact regulates reinforced EU presence in Bosnia, i.e. Special EU Representative`s term of office, will doubtless cause certain controversies among Bosnian politicians. Since the EU has to, according to the new strategy, accomplish their goal until the half of the 2009, it is obvious that Bosnian political elite will try to seize a higher level of independence. So far, political leaders of Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks have criticised the High Representative`s great powers, claiming that they are ready for ruling their country all by themselves.

European officials have not announced publicly what kind of authority will have new EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is the third article that appoints the new UN Security Council Resolution, so as to establish this new function. This Resolution would end the Office of High Representative mandate and regulate authorities and responsibilities, as it was estimated by Dayton Agreement.

Big powers` approval would be necessary for creating this important Resolution, which would be then seen as a revision of the 1995 Peace Treaty. Since this European plan reminds partly on constitutional reform, presented by State Undersecretary Nicolas Burns two years ago, convincing the Russian diplomats is expected to be the key task.

So far, Russia has not announced its attitude on new European strategy, but it is well known that Russia supports the OHR closure. Moreover, few diplomatic sources claim that Russia intended to insist on that issue during an upcoming the Peace Implementation Council session, which is to be held in Brussels on November 19 and 20, but that the discussion will be postponed due to the new EU strategy.

Bosnian politicians will demand the new Special EU Representative`s mandate to be as limited as possible, for the "Bonn authorisation" of High Representative were strongly criticised, which granted him the power to change governments and exclude certain people from political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The current Head of the OHR Miroslav Lajcak believes that the nature of international presence in BIH will be known by the beginning of March 2009, but wishes not to prejudge what decision will be accepted or what responsibilities will be put before new EU Special Representative.

"The EU has begun with preparation for its international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this debate will consider Special EU Representative`s competence, who would be at the same time a Chief of the European Commission`s Delegation, as well as the essence of his relation toward local authorities", said Lajcak immediately after the Council of Ministers` session.

Reuters news agency has quoted an unnamed foreign diplomat from Sarajevo, who announced that the EU is considering the possibility to confer the High Representative`s responsibilities to the EU Special Representative, but only in some occasions.

„If, for example, a country would have disintegrated, there will be someone who has the power to stop that", explained a diplomat.

In the fourth article, in order to prevent any destabilisation of the country, EU officials have emphasised the importance of maintaining strong international presence in BiH, "which must be continued even after the closure of the Office of High Representative". In terms of this challenge, international community representatives will have to discuss on the destiny of peace troupes which have remained in Bosnia.

From primarily 60.000 NATO soldiers, allocated all over this ex-Yugoslav republic after cease-fire, peace troupes were reduced on 2.500 EUFOR soldiers only. Some diplomatic sources claim that France, currently presiding over the EU, supports an ending of EUFOR mission, while other countries believe that this military peace mission has to remain there, regardless of the OHR closure, so as to prevent fragile stability in BiH.

In the fifth article of the strategy, Rehn and Solana insist on an active and wide usage of all accessible EU instruments, particularly the Stabilisation and Association Agreement as leading document in implementing reforms. Finally, the last article contains an opinion on reforming the Dayton Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which seems to be the toughest challenge not only for Bosnian, but for European officials likewise.

Although it is stressed in the document that "constitutional reform is not the condition neither for closure of the OHR or for the BiH proceeding toward EU", it is clear to everyone that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot make a progress toward its European future unless the present Constitution is not modified.

"Constitutional framework, however, must be changed so that the efficient national structures would be provided, which would then work on implementing EU integrations, including the necessity of speaking on one language", it is stressed in the document, pointing out that the EU may help in this process, but that this process has to be led by BiH authorities.

This unity may be a stumbling block, although the presidents of the three leading BiH parties have made an agreement on modifying current Constitution with the assistance of experts from international institutions, so that these changes include local authorities competency, common BiH government functioning, legal status of Brcko district, human rights and freedom issues, as well as the territorial organisation of the middle level, i.e. Republic of Srpska and Federation of BiH.

Only if three constitutional group`s leaders make some visual steps forward, Bosnia and Herzegovina will reach European strategy goal - and that is to become stable, peaceful and multiethnic country, determined to continue toward EU membership.