During a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, once again reiterated the need for Sarajevo to ensure the “integrity” of its territory and institutions before it can be eligible for European membership.
Like the delegation of MEPs who visited the Bosnian capital on 19 September (see EUROPE 13713/5), the Commissioner pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the last of the six countries in the Western Balkans not to have finalised its reform agenda, thus closing the door to European funding, which is crucial to the country’s progress.
According to the Commissioner, who was speaking at a joint press conference with Borjana Krišto, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a great many challenges remain, particularly at the political and institutional level: non-compliance with the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the Central Election Commission, delays in the implementation of reforms by the Council of Ministers, lack of unity in the adoption of the reform programme, difficulties in reaching consensus and political will regarding the appointment of a chief negotiator, and the absence of a national budget, which is essential for the growth plan and the reform programme.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the grip of internal unrest and a constitutional crisis, due in particular to the separatist ambitions of the Bosnian Serb entity and its leader, Milorad Dodik, who rejects the authority of the Bosnian Constitutional Court (see EUROPE 13604/12).
The Commissioner is due to address the Bosnian Parliament on Wednesday 24 September as part of her visit. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)