On Tuesday 11 April, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak told the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee that he hoped his country would obtain European Union candidate accession status by the end of 2017.
Saying that his county would focus on the response to the questionnaire sent by the European Commission last December (see EUROPE 11687), Crnadak stated that Bosnia-Herzegovina would do its utmost to “obtain candidate status as soon as possible, if possible by the end of this year”.
He underlined the fact that EU accession is an absolute priority. While 2016 was synonymous with a real breakthrough on the EU path, there is no question of Bosnia-Herzegovina slowing down or taking a break in 2017. “The state is fully committed to joining the EU, with total determination. There are not many subjects around which we all agree, between the two identities. But on this we are all united. We would all like the integration process to be able to go as quickly as possible”, Crnadak said, underscoring the importance of continuing the reforms – especially economic reforms.
According to Crnadak, opinion polls show that 80% of people questioned support EU accession.
In his view, citizens highlight three priorities: - growth and economic progress (with the current unemployment rate being 40%); justice and the rule of law; and the integration process, which would help bring peace to the country.
Asked about the role of Russia in the region, Crnadak said that “there is no room to be worried when it comes to Russia’s influence”, even if Moscow has interests in Bosnia. In his view, Bosnia’s position as regards its European outlook is respected by Russia.
Valentin Inzko calls for greater EU involvement. The United Nations high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, called on the EU to be more involved in consolidating the Bosnian state. "Strategic re-engagement from the EU is needed for things to change: this country can become peaceful and prosperous", he told MEPs.
In Inzko's opinion, reforms that are sufficiently deep are needed to make Bosnia-Herzegovina a modern country that respects the rule of law. "We need to be more more involved as the European Union. We can't leave a vacuum. The rule of law is the top priority", he said.
The minister also stated that the 2009 European Court of Justice ruling on the Sejdic-Finci case about the issue of minorities had still not been implemented. In his view, the rights of some citizens are systematically violated in the country. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)