Former prime minister of Slovakia and once high representative of the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina Miroslav Lajcak is the most likely candidate for the post of European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security assistant for the Balkan region.

According to European diplomats, Lajcak is the most suitable candidate for the position of the assistant to EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. As the assistant, he would be in charge of issues in the Balkans, Russia, Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus, Slovakian daily SME stated.

Over the past five to ten years, the Balkans has been the European policy's top priority. The region is liable to political instability and there is a high risk of emigration and organised crime, said political analyst with the Centre for European Reform Hugo Brady.

If he gets appointed to the position, Lajcak will assume his diplomatic office on January 1, 2011.