MEPs meeting in Strasbourg approved, on Wednesday 12 July, the 2022 report on Bosnia-Herzegovina (530 votes in favour, 68 against and 33 abstentions).
The text submitted by Paulo Rangel (EPP, Portuguese) denounces in particular the “recurrent inflammatory” rhetoric and “secessionist laws and policies” of the leaders of Republika Srpska, which destabilise the country and “contradict its European perspective” (see EUROPE 13212/28).
The issue of Republika Srpska also worries MEPs about its links with Moscow. They reiterate their call for targeted sanctions against “those who threaten the sovereignty” of the country, led by the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik (see EUROPE 13216/11).
Sarajevo should – among other things – also work to remedy the “lack of progress in preventing widespread corruption”, adopt laws against conflicts of interest, make further efforts on the issue of missing persons, guarantee media freedom and combat discrimination.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The report welcomes the rapid implementation of the results of the October 2022 general elections and the appointment of a new government at state level.
It considers that Bosnia-Herzegovina should step up its preparations for EU accession negotiations, by “taking advantage of the political momentum inherent” in the European Council’s decision in December 2022 to grant the country candidate status. For its part, the EU should, according to MEPs, speed up the process of the country’s accession to the Union.
However, they warn, any progress at European level – such as access to funds from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance ‘IPA III’ – will be conditional on democratic progress.
“The authorities must now capitalise on the momentum, implement the key reforms and urgently reject the inflammatory divisions and dangerous secessionism that continue to be a major obstacle to EU integration”, summarised Mr Rangel. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)