The European Union (EU) should make 2011 the year when it finally takes the lead international role in helping Bosnia on its journey from a war-ravaged ward to a stable member state, stated the latest report of the International Crisis Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia: Europe’s Time to Act, the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, argues that the EU is better placed to cajole Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats than the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the pro-consular entity established by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) after the 1995 Dayton Ac-cords.

Though the OHR retains few of its previous powers and little capacity to be effective even in the case of a serious security threat, the EU has been hesitant to act while it is still present. But it is time for the mem-ber states to reinforce the EU“Delegation” (embassy) in the country so it can get on with the job only it can perform.

“Bosnia has outgrown the OHR. The EU will not ‘replace’ it, because its goals and tools are different ones, more suited for dealing with what is a sovereign, though troubled, state”, says Crisis Group’s Balkans Pro-ject Director Marko Prelec.

“The EU can help Bosnia implement needed reforms, but not dictate pol-icy, keep its government running smoothly or guarantee stability. Bosnians will have to meet EU mem-bership criteria themselves”.

The international community has decided that it will not close the OHR until Bosnia completes what it calls the five objectives and two conditions (“five plus two”) imposed by the PIC in 2008.

Bosnia has fin-ished three objectives and one condition, but two more – regulating state and defence property –are stuck. Dividing state property among different levels of government could take years, however, and, though im-portant, it has little to do with the country’s viability, its need for international assistance or its relation-ship with the EU.

The EU should not wait to establish a reinforced Delegation, with a new ambassador, that can provide a clear, single voice on Bosnia. The Delegation should encourage Bosnia as it applies for EU membership, which could happen later this year.

Several years are likely to go by before membership negotiations actu-ally begin, but the candidacy process can be expected to encourage further reform as it has done elsewhere in Europe. As the EU Delegation grows, the OHR should take a back seat.

“EU foreign ministers should promptly give the EU Delegation in Bosnia new powers, responsibilities and resources”, says Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director.

“Failure to move deci-sively on this when they meet on 31 January and to appoint soon a strong ambassador, a post left vacant for six months, would damage EU credibility to act just as its new European External Action Service is trying to demonstrate that the Lisbon Treaty has made Brussels a more effective international player”.