Christopher Geidt proposes new mandate for OHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina

British Lord Christopher Geidt and former High Representative Carl Bildt have proposed a new approach to resolve the political deadlock in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal suggests defining a clearer mandate for the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and setting a predetermined timeline for its closure, rather than tying its end to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union.

The current crisis stems from a lack of consensus among international powers regarding a successor to Christian Schmidt, who left office in June. Geidt notes a fundamental disagreement between Washington and Brussels: the United States views the OHR as an obstacle to sovereignty and seeks reduced international oversight, while European nations fear that dissolving the office prematurely would create a functional vacuum.

Geidt argues that the current paralysis, caused by the Peace Implementation Council's inability to agree on a successor, serves no party's interests. He suggests that the transition should be managed through a framework similar to the Berlin Process, aligning international levers with specific goals and conditions to ensure the country is capable of functioning independently once the international protectorate ends.