EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas warns Bosnia of €1 billion aid cut over reforms

Kaja Kalas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has come under heightened scrutiny from EU diplomats who say her agenda is overly focused on Russia. A senior EU diplomat joked that if asked where Africa is, Kalas might answer “south of Russia,” reflecting internal concerns about her approach.

During a visit to Sarajevo, Kalas warned Bosnia and Herzegovina that roughly €1 billion of EU financial support earmarked for the country’s reform programme could be withdrawn if the government does not accelerate the required reforms. She urged Bosnian authorities to keep pace with other Western Balkan nations and stressed that EU accession prospects depend on meeting the reform agenda. Kalas also highlighted that about 75 % of the Bosnian population supports EU membership.

Kalas began her role on 1 December 2024, succeeding the previous High Representative. Her statements have drawn sharp reactions from Russia, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissing her proposals on military restrictions as “idiotic.”