"We have great support in the European Union for this step. If the EU policy is defined according to expectations, conditions would be created for Bosnia to submit its application for candidate status by the year's end," Sarajevo-based Oslobodjenje daily cited Alkalaj as saying on Thursday.

Alkalaj recalled that the EU was in the process of defining its new policy for Western Balkan which, among other things, should result in the introduction of the position of EU special representative for the region.

Alkalaj said he expected the EU to define its new policy by the end of October at the latest.

If the EU indeed opens an office of special representative for Western Balkans, the role of the EU representative Office in Bosnia would grow stronger as well.

This means that the Office of the international community's High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina would continue to implement the already defined reform objectives in Bosnia, such as the solution to the status of the state-owned property, while the office of the EU representative would help Western Balkan countries make progress on the path to EU membership.

"Bosnia should meet its obligations by the time it receives an official invitation for candidate status," Alkalaj said, recalling that at least a year and a half must go by between the time the application is submitted and the approval of the request.

Bosnia and the European Union have signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement which has so far been ratified by 24 EU member states. Alkalaj said he expected a speedy ratification in the countries that have not yet confirmed the agreement.