Brussels, 24/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 January, European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle announced that the head of EU delegation and special representative, Peter Sorensen, last week received in Brussels a reinforced mandate with regard Bosnia leaders in order to reach a solution on bringing the constitution into line with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (Sejdic-Finci ruling). “Baroness Ashton and I made clear that he enjoys our full support for intensified engagement with political leaders and government representatives in an effort to reach a solution”, Füle said during a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe.
Recalling the “impasse” on implementation of the Sejdic-Finci ruling, Füle said that even if this - a year before the elections - is not the ideal time for compromises “there is no choice”, Bosnia and Herzegovina “does not have a choice” if it wants its elections to meet European standards.
Füle also recalled that a solution to this issue is “needed now”, dispelling two myths. It is not true that the member states could eventually lower the bar for a credible membership application if the Bosnian authorities continue to fail in their efforts to reach a shared solution, Füle stated.
He added that it is also totally wrong to say that procrastinating on the Sejdic-Finci ruling implementation would lead to a situation which was more conducive to a solution after the elections, “because we would not consider such elections up to the necessary standards”. He thus recalled that the role of the Council of Europe is crucial in helping the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (CG/transl.fl)