Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi called for dialogue and a re-launch of the European agenda when he arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a two-day visit on Wednesday 24 November.
2021 - a year without elections - should have been a year of progress towards EU membership. Instead, it has been marred by separatist rhetoric.
Stressing that there was a “very clear and credible European perspective” for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Commissioner recalled that, in order to become a formal candidate for EU membership, the country had to achieve a critical mass of reforms, including to the rule of law and the judiciary, the constitution and elections, and ensure the proper functioning of state institutions.
Mr Várhelyi therefore called on the country’s political leaders to “pursue political dialogue and relaunch the European agenda”. “We need constructive dialogue and political will from all sides to move forward on the EU path. Boycott or blockage are unacceptable and not in the interest of the citizens of this country”, he insisted.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina makes progress, it will be able to benefit fully from EU programmes and funds, the Commissioner said, adding that the EU investment plan could be an opportunity for the country to change its economic model and move towards green and digital transformation.
However, in order to benefit from these European grants, public institutions must function perfectly, Várhelyi warned. He also stressed that without the necessary political decisions, the country could lose major investments, citing the loss of up to €1.5 billion in infrastructure investments, almost €90 million in IPA2020 projects, and a risk of Bosnians being excluded from the Creative Europe and Horizon 2020 programmes in 2022.
Furthermore, “the increasingly divisive rhetoric and actions do not help”, denounced the Commissioner. In his view, the withdrawal of the Republika Srpska entity and the dismantling of State institutions would further distance Bosnia and Herzegovina from alignment with the Community acquis and put the European path on hold.
Mr Várhelyi therefore called on “ all political leaders to take steps to de-escalate [the situation], resume dialogue”, help the EU find solutions, and “substance of issues that are fuelling tensions”. He also indicated that the EU was ready to facilitate dialogue within the institutions. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)