Brussels, 20/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU and the United States once again gathered together the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbs, Muslims and Bosnian Croats - in Sarajevo on Tuesday 20 October in the hope of finding agreement on a programme of reforms, beginning with the constitution, to break the institutional deadlock that has paralysed the country and to get it back on track towards accession to the EU and NATO. A first meeting took place on 9 October, but with no tangible results. “It is absolutely essential and crucial that we get concrete results this week,” said Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn before the meeting at which he, along with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, represented the EU. The US delegation was led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. It was absolutely necessary to reach a “political agreement” on reform of the constitution which would allow Bosnia to present a “credible candidacy” for accession to the EU, said Rehn. Chance of a breakthrough seemed slight on Tuesday afternoon following rejection of the new EU-US proposals by the leaders of all three communities. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said that the constitutional reform being proposed by the EU and the United States were a “drastic change” to the Dayton Agreement and sought only to protect the interests of the Bosnian Muslims. The Muslims and Bosnian Croats also rejected the proposals, though for different reasons, leaving the prospect of difficult negotiations. The meeting is scheduled to continue on Wednesday 21 October.
In its 2009 progress report published last week (see EUROPE 9998), the Commission criticised Bosnia and Herzegovina for having made “very limited progress” in addressing the political criteria for EU membership. The domestic political climate has deteriorated and challenges to the proper functioning of the institutions have continued, it says. Reform implementation has been “slow” due to a “lack of consensus and political will”, and to the complex institutional framework. “A shared vision by the political leaders on the direction of the country and on key EU-related reforms remains essential for further progress towards the EU,” the Commission said in its report. The country will have, first of all, to meet the conditions set for the closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), since candidacy for accession, to the EU can only be accepted after the OHR has been closed, Rehn pointed out. Furthermore, reform of the constitution and effective operation of state institutions are essential if the Commission is to recommend to member states that Bosnia should become an applicant country, he said. (H.B./transl.rt)