EU struggles to agree on Bosnia’s next international overseer

EU foreign ministers are trying to agree on who should replace Christian Schmidt as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s High Representative, the international official who still has powers to intervene in the country’s politics.

Schmidt has announced he is stepping down, but Western allies have not yet agreed on a successor.

Italy has put forward former diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, with US backing. EU states have not united behind him.

EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said Bosnia should eventually be able to stand on its own, without decisions being taken under international supervision.

The High Representative was created after Bosnia’s 1992-95 war to oversee the peace settlement.

A decision is expected by the end of June.