Bosnia and Herzegovina grapples with High Representative vacancy and border wait crisis

The five‑day deadline for appointing a new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina has passed without an agreement. European states including Germany, France and the United Kingdom back a European expert, while the United States insists on Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi. The incumbent, Christian Schmidt, resigned in May under U.S. pressure and will remain in office until a successor is named, which was expected by 30 June.

At the same time, Bosnian officials warn that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System is causing border queues of three to five hours for hundreds of thousands of travelers. Representative Branislav Borenović urged immediate adjustments, warning of a potential collapse of border crossings and loss of confidence in the European integration process.