Brussels, 11/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 11 November, the chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Council of Ministers, Denis Zvizdic, announced that his country intended to submit an application for EU accession “in one or two months' time”.
“We intend to submit an application for accession”, he said at the end of the first Association and Stabilisation Council between the EU and Bosnia. Aware of the reform efforts that had to be made, Zvizdic said his country was committed to making them. “There is no alternative to European integration. We are ready to work together with the EU, on a daily basis, so as to accelerate the process”, he added.
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn seemed cautious, and warned Zvizdic. Underlining that the key word for the coming months would be “implementation”, Hahn said that this was also a pre-condition for submitting a “credible” application “at a time that is appropriate (…) for everyone”. He added that an application submitted at the right time would enable the EU member states to ensure the follow-up of this application. “Meaningful progress in the implementation of the reform agenda is necessary for the EU to consider a membership application from Bosnia and Herzegovina”, says the joint press release published at the end of the Council. The press release also highlights initial encouraging results on the reforms.
According to the press release, the EU called on Bosnia-Herzegovina to focus on the improvement of the socio-economic situation. For the EU, upholding the commitments and obligations under the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA), including those relating to its adaptation following the accession of Croatia to the EU, is an important element of the commitment to Bosnia-Herzegovina's EU integration process. Work on adapting the SAA was expected to begin in the week of 14 December. Hahn added that a coordination mechanism between the EU and Bosnia was “absolutely necessary” because it would enable Sarajevo's efforts to be accelerated.
Elsewhere, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini criticised the decision of the Republika Srpska government on Thursday 10 December to suspend cooperation with certain judicial and law enforcement bodies in Bosnia-Herzegovina, underlining that this “could jeopardise the functioning of the judiciary and law enforcement in the country.” “We underline the need to respect the rule of law throughout the whole territory of the country and we call the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain mutual cooperation and dialogue”, she added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)