Strasbourg, 23/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 24 May, MEPs called on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to work on an effective coordination mechanism for increased engagement with the EU - and in collaboration with it. In the report of Doris Pack (EPP, Germany) that they adopted, MEPs express their concern at the lack of shared vision by the elites on the general direction of the country, and they underline the importance of speaking with a single voice as part of the process of integration with the EU. They call for efforts to be concentrated on implementing a roadmap towards the EU “so as to be able to present a credible request for accession”.
The Parliament also underlines that political instability and the weak rule of law have an impact on economic growth, investment and on the business environment.
Large and urgent institutional reforms, at the federal and entity levels, are needed in order to have more effective structures of the state that are functional and transparent, the MEPs state. They also call for execution of the Sejdic-Finci ruling. They are concerned by the fact that the absence of agreement on this ruling could have “damaging effects on the whole accession process”.
The MEPs also call for action against the high level of corruption, for reform of the public administration, and for the establishment of a judicial system that is “independent, impartial and effective”. All the political parties must work towards an inclusive and tolerant society, and the authorities must implement anti-discrimination policies and laws, Parliament adds.
According to the MEPs, Bosnia and Herzegovina must step up preparation for Croatia's membership of the EU, particularly by aligning its legislation on food safety, if it does not want to lose its markets.
The MEPs rejected an amendment from the rapporteur which recommended the Council of Europe to envisage the suspension of Sarajevo due to its inability to conform to the Sejdic-Finci ruling, and inviting the Commission to envisage starting procedures with a view to suspending the interim agreement and the pre-accession financial assistance (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)