Colonna, who was in Sarajevo on Friday for an official visit, told reporters that Bosnia-Herzegovina had undoubtedly made significant progress, which was recognised by the European Commission. The EC will therefore on 21 November announce the date for the official start of negotiations with Sarajevo on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, she added.
France, just as all other EU member-states, wants to see Bosnia take over full responsibility for its future as soon as possible and the international community to assume an advisory role towards the country.
After meeting the French minister, the chairman of Bosnia's Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, said that Paris was in favour of faster integration of Bosnia into the European bloc.
Colonna invited Terzic to visit Paris on 14 December and attend ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the 1995 peace agreement which stopped the war in Bosnia.
According to sources from the EU, the Union and Bosnia are very likely to start negotiations on the SAA on 25 November.