Brussels, 06/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission welcomed the fact the Republika Srpska in Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH) has finally passed the draft police reform bill that should pave the way for negotiations between the EU and BiH on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (ASA). The Bosnian Serb parliament twice has rejected the police bill in 2005, at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council of 3 October expressed 'deep regret' and decided the negotiations to prepare for an ASA would not be able to start at the end of the year as initially planned (see EUROPE 9040, the ASA is an important move towards potentially joining the EU in the future). The sudden U-turn by the Bosnian Serb parliamentarians may be enough to get the EU to change its mind and give the go-ahead in the next few weeks to opening ASA negotiations. The European Commission confirms that the adopted police reform is fully compatible with the three basic principles set out by the EU. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the 'decision is an impotent step forward; however, it is clear that this agreement now has to be adopted by the BiH and Federation Parliaments in order to achieve the police reform which is a condition to start negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.'