A delegation of six MEPs from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, members of the Renew Europe, EPP and Social Democrats groups, made a two-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to meet elected representatives and local officials involved in the EU accession process.
Bosnia, one of the six Western Balkan countries seeking to join the EU (see EUROPE 13652/26), is facing profound internal political instability, due in particular to the secessionist ambitions of the leader of the Bosnian Serb entity, Milorad Dodik (see EUROPE 13693/14).
According to the members of the delegation, while Sarajevo has made some progress with the reforms, the process is currently at a standstill. In addition, Bosnia has still not received EU approval for its reform agenda, which is necessary for the allocation of EU funding (see EUROPE 13671/16).
Here again, MEPs stress the need for the country to make fundamental changes to its democratic institutions, to increase the independence of its judiciary and media, and to ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They reiterate their “support” for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s institutions and “constitutional order”, as well as their “zero tolerance of Milorad Dodik’s obstructionist and secessionist policies”.
The recent report on Bosnia by Ondřej Kolář MEP (EPP, Czech), adopted by Parliament last July (see EUROPE 13677/11), deplores a “failure” both on Bosnia’s part and on the part of the EU, which did not know how “to talk and work adequately with the country”.
Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, was removed from office at the beginning of September after being condemned for failing to comply with the decisions of the International High Representative. An election is due to be held in November to appoint his successor, but the local authorities refuse to organise it (see EUROPE 13697/16). (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)