The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, used his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, 21 November, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Agreements, which ended the war in that country, to call on Sarajevo to implement reforms.
“Let’s use this anniversary to be a turning point, to move from post-war to pre-accession (to the EU). To accelerate the process and move from Dayton to Brussels”, proposed the High Representative. “Over the past 25 years, progress has been made in many fields towards building a stable and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, however, we have to recognise that the journey is not over and that much remains to be done”, he acknowledged.
Mr Borrell insisted on the reforms needed, particularly to obtain EU candidate status, adding that the country’s future was European. To achieve this, the political leadership of this country will have to take its share of responsibility, he said. “The authorities need to step up their efforts to deliver on the reform priorities to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens closer to the European Union. Candidate status can be considered only when progress is made on all 14 key Opinion priorities expressed by the European Commission”, the High Representative stressed.
He denounced “deep-rooted” political divisions, gaps in the judiciary, corruption and persistent negative rhetoric that block progress.
Among the reforms needed are those of the institutional, electoral and legal frameworks. According to Borrell “we must transform the Dayton architecture into one that provides a foundation for a functioning society based on principles of democracy and the protection of human rights. This has to be inclusive, and this will require time and a broad national debate”, he warned.
The High Representative also recalled the need for reconciliation within the country. Citing the experience of his country, Spain, he explained that the reconciliation of the country had been mainly the result of the hard work to join the EU. “We were so busy trying to fulfil all the requirements to become a member of the EU, that the reconciliation came as a collateral effect of this collective engagement on a common endeavour”, he recalled.
Thus, according to him, while more than 80% of Bosnian citizens are in favour of the country's accession to the EU, this objective will unite Bosnian political parties and the general public in a common endeavour. “The unity does not prevent the diversity and the diversity is no obstacle to the unity”, highlighted Mr Borrell, echoing the EU’s motto, which could also apply to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)