BOSNIA PIC MEETING: EU GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF US

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000594 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/SCE FOR FOOKS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL BK EUN SUBJECT: BOSNIA PIC MEETING: EU GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF US POSITION REF: STATE 20031 Classified By: Political Officer Holly Schwendler for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) The EU Council Secretariat is in full agreement with reftel U.S. priorities for the upcoming PIC meeting, according to Bosnia officer Rasa Ostrauskaite. European Commission political officer for Bosnia, Jose Sanchez Alegre, voiced some skepticism regarding the value and necessity of OHR extension, particularly a 12-month extension, but said that the Commission will not stand in the way. In the context of supporting Bosnia on its European path, he emphasized encouraging BiH to take more ownership of the reform process, rather than have reforms imposed by the international community. Sanchez Alegre asserted that the inherent instability of the Balkans region amplifies any shortcomings in progress on reform, therefore heightening international concern, perhaps unnecessarily. GRAY .