Brussels, 09/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 18 April, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle announced his decision to cancel the third high level dialogue meeting between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina - which was scheduled to take place in Mostar on 11 April - because of a lack of progress in bringing the country's constitution into line with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (Sejdic-Finci judgment). Instead, Füle wants to visit Sarajevo, with members of the Council of Europe and technical experts from the Venice Commission, for a series of consultations on the best way to respond to the Sejdic-Finci judgment.
Together with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland, Füle “deeply regrets the lack of progress in reaching an agreement” on the implementation of this judgment. Füle and Jagland regret the fact that narrow party and ethnic interests continue to prevail over a real commitment to putting an end to the constitutional discrimination that affects many citizens. “The lack of resolve to find a compromise and to tackle the Sejdic-Finci decision shows that the declared commitment to the European agenda is not backed up by acts and concrete action”, Füle said, regretting “the lack of commitment” from certain leaders in the European agenda. “Time is short for the constitution and electoral law to be brought into line with the ECHR ahead of the 2014 elections”, he added (our translation).
The non-conformity of the constitution is blocking the entry into force of the stabilisation and association agreement between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina and a credible request for accession to the EU. (CG/transl.fl)