Schwarz-Schilling told the press in Sarajevo on Tuesday that he had been instructed by the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in Bosnia, which met in Vienna last week, to carry out preparations for the closing down of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and its transformation into the office of the European Union's Special Representative (EUSR).
It is expected that the OHR will be transformed in the first half of 2007, part of the process being a review of the status of former officials who were replaced for obstructing the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and permanently banned from holding public office.
The replacements played an important role in stabilising the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and were necessary in one period of time, Schwarz-Schilling said, adding that those times were gone and that Bosnia-Herzegovina should start functioning as a democracy.
Since 1997, when former High Representative Carlos Westendorp was given such powers, 161 elected officials at all levels of authority, from members of the state presidency to municipal heads, have been replaced.
Schwarz-Schilling explained that all cases, except for those referring to obstruction of cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, would be reviewed.
All other officials who were punished in the past have been given the right to send the OHR requests to reconsider decisions on their replacement.
This will be followed by a comprehensive investigation which will also cover the conduct of the candidates after their replacement.
Based on the findings, the High Representative will decide whether to annul previously imposed bans.
It is not ruled out that some of the cases will be transferred to competent institutions for criminal prosecution.
At the same time, the OHR will start implementing measures to enable previously replaced officials to apply for a job in public companies and institutions.