A government burdened with dismissals and securing positions has neither the time nor the interest for state and European priorities. Negotiations with the European Union (EU) are still far off, and the Growth Plan has long been forgotten. The reform agenda was never completed, and the first tranche of 70 million euros has been lost. March presents a new opportunity, but judging by the irresponsible government, it too will be wasted. And it is certain that the first tranche is just the first loss out of a total of one billion euros.
Growth Plan: One billion euros, two billion BAM.
“A small, fine injection that should help our economy,” said Elmedin Konakovic (NiP), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), on May 13th, 2024.
A year later, there are neither millions nor billions, neither BAM nor euros. BiH is the only country in the Western Balkans that has received nothing because domestic politics stands between the national economy and European opportunities. It has completely failed, squandered all chances, and simply withdrawn. Leaders have replaced loud promises with silence. On the brink of March and yet another, most likely futile, deadline from Brussels, the Growth Plan is not even a topic in BiH. But the chronology of a complete political debacle has not been forgotten. So, let’s recall: the end was already at the beginning when SNSD condemned the Reform Agenda to incompleteness.
“110 is better than 0, however, it’s not the same as 113,” said Zeljka Cvijanovic (SNSD), Chairwoman of the Presidency of BiH, on May 17th, 2024.
Everything stalled over two measures. An agenda without the Constitutional Court and without the abolition of the ethnic veto in the State Aid Council.
“There is no amount of money that could get them such things, fundamental matters of transformation in BiH. That will not happen,” said Milorad Dodik (SNSD), President of Republika Srpska (RS), on July 23rd, 2024.
The boundary for the agreement was set. It was clear that not all 113 measures would reach Brussels. Yet, negotiations continued. If not for the real deal, then at least for the image of hardworking leaders.
“Messages are constantly arriving on my phone because agreements are being made online, adjustments,” said Nermin Niksic (SDP), Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), on July 23rd, 2024.
Never adjusted, it was excluded from the Reform Agenda. The principle was simple – what cannot and does not have to be done, Brussels should forgive and tolerate. But Brussels did not forgive the incomplete agenda, nor did four cantonal prime ministers support it with their votes. Since they were all SDA personnel, the ruling coalition shifted full responsibility to that party.
“This will be remembered as the day when the SDA headquarters brought down the April Package No. 2,” said Sabina Cudic, a representative of NS in the House of Representatives of BiH, on July 25th, 2024.
“They should change their decision on forming a working team because my stance is that we should not have been part of the team at all. The government should take responsibility,” said Nezir Pivic (SDA), Prime Minister of Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC).
While some pointed fingers at each other for bringing down the Growth Plan and betraying the state, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Kristo, prepared what was available and sent it to Brussels without consulting her partners. In doing so, she confirmed that she could have done the same earlier, without the cantons’ approval.
“She started behaving like an unguided missile. She is not the one who can do that,” said Milorad Dodik (SNSD), President of RS.
The European Commission responded. Without all the required reforms, there is no money. Ursula von der Leyen repeated the same message in Sarajevo, despite the hosts’ hopes that she would bring a more concrete gift. Though cordial, there was no leniency.
“We always depend on some handout, from someone, that’s how we behave and position ourselves,” said Safet Softic (SDA), a delegate in the House of Peoples of BiH, on July 22nd, 2024.
Then, at the end of the year, Kopman arrived in Sarajevo with a potential solution to finalize the agenda and save the first tranche. The missing reforms were modified so that the Constitutional Court was returned within the framework of the 14 priorities, and the number of members in the State Aid Council was reduced. However, it was still too late. The ruling coalition was already deep in its biggest crisis since its formation, with leaders acting as guardians of their positions. After delays, failed negotiations, and rejections from Brussels, the Growth Plan, in the hands of BiH’s authorities, is nothing more than a fool’s promise and a complete deception, Federalna writes.
