Brussels, 14/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - Welcoming Bosnia Herzegovina's application on 15 February 2016 to join the European Union (see EUROPE 11490), the European Parliament asked the Council of the EU on Thursday 14 April to examine the application as soon as possible.
Endorsing a resolution by Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania) on the 2015 report on Bosnia Herzegovina, the MEPs called on the Bosnian authorities to pursue the necessary legal, social, economic, political and constitutional reforms. The fact that the country's constitution has not been brought into line with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (the Sejdic-Finci and Zornic cases) risks holding up the country's progress towards accession, explain the MEPs.
In the resolution, the EP regrets that corruption, notably at high level, remains widespread and the political commitments to tackle it have not been put into practice. It is also concerned about political pressure on the judicial system, pointing out that a stable and operational judicial system is of primordial importance for guaranteeing the rule of law in the country and moving towards EU accession. The EP also calls for progress in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.
Likewise, the EP wants rapid implementation of the coordination mechanism on questions relating to the European Union and 'full' implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The MEPs warn that in parallel, significant progress in reform, the mechanism and the SAA, particularly its adaptation to Croatia joining the EU, are also needed for the EU to consider that Sarajevo's accession application is credible.
The parliamentarians welcome Bosnia's participation in the G6 of Western Balkans countries and its voluntarist and constructive attitude to promoting regional cooperation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)