Twelve Bosnian leaders meeting in Brussels on Sunday 12 June by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, committed themselves to taking their country further along the European path and to preserving and building a “a peaceful, stable, sovereign and independent functional European state of Bosnia and Herzegovina comprised of Bosniacs, Croats and Serbs as constituent peoples (along with others), and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consists of two entities and Brčko District, established in line with the Constitution and the General Framework Agreement for Peace”.
The participants agreed on 19 actions, including a commitment to constructively undertake the reforms necessary to safeguard and advance the prosperity, democratic functioning and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They commit themselves to working “decisively” towards fulfilling the 14 Key Priorities of the Commission’s Opinion on the country’s application for EU membership in order to advance on the EU path and in this context, to adopt - “urgently and no later than within 6 months from the formation of all authorities” after the 2022 general elections - the necessary measures, including the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) and Law on Courts, the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest and the Law on Public Procurement and the limited electoral and constitutional reforms needed to ensure full compliance with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with the Council of Europe recommendations.
The participants also commit to strengthening the prevention of and fight against corruption and organised crime, including an independent judiciary, and to improving the functioning of a professional and depoliticised public administration.
The leaders commit as well to take steps to fully re-establish a regular political dialogue with the EU, including through the structures of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and to take all necessary steps to ensure that the country can benefit from EU pre-accession funds (IPA III), “including through the timely ratification of the Financial Framework Agreement and the Partnership Agreement”.
They also promise to take all necessary measures to ensure that the 2022 general elections are organised efficiently and in an orderly manner, with the necessary means and to conduct the election campaign “fairly, constructively, and free from divisive and hateful rhetoric”. The parties “shall cooperate constructively after the vote to ensure the swift formation of new legislative and executive authorities at all levels of government in line with the legally prescribed deadlines”, the leaders said.
They stress as well the importance of extending EUFOR Althea’s executive mandate and its continued presence in the country “to maintain a safe and secure environment”.
See the agreement and the list of participants: https://aeur.eu/f/22q (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)