Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl Reisinger and German State Minister for Europe and Climate Dr. Anna Lührmann discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in view of the constitutional crisis caused by the secessionist actions of the Republika Srpska leadership at a joint meeting in Sarajevo. Meinl-Reisinger and Lührmann agree that further steps must now be taken together urgently against the perpetrators of the constitutional crisis. They also shared this assessment in a conversation with the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH Borjana Krišto, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany announced.
“Attacks on the constitutional integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina by leading politicians from Republika Srpska, who are consciously weakening the state, are unacceptable and pose a threat to the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region. They are also blocking the further process of EU accession and endangering the country’s future in the EU,” Meinl-Reisinger and Lührmann explained this step.
Austria and Germany are therefore, in close coordination with other partners, resolutely opposing the responsible politicians from the RS entity. To this end, measures are being initiated to prevent the entry of the three responsible politicians from Republika Srpska into Austria and Germany in the future.
All stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina are now being called upon to contribute to calming the situation and stability in order to avoid further escalation. It is necessary to remove the obstacles to progress in the EU accession process and overcome the reform deadlock. Therefore, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and German State Minister for Europe and Climate Dr. Anna Lührmann appeal to all political decision-makers to take bold steps towards further EU reforms.
“Milorad Dodik has gone to a new extreme with his secessionist provocations and actions and has clearly crossed red lines from a legal perspective. In doing so, he is endangering the security, stability, constitutional order and territorial integrity of this Western Balkan country. We will no longer tolerate such behavior.
At the same time, we are convinced that the future of BiH lies in the EU. With this, we want to send a political signal and convince all pro-European forces that we continue to resolutely support them in their efforts for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in the EU. Especially the population of Republika Srpska, because their path to a European future cannot depend on a few politicians,” said Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger.
State Minister Lührmann emphasizes: This has really gone too far! Those responsible for the attacks on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina are endangering peace, security in the region and the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU. That is why our measures are directed precisely against these individuals. The EU’s door has never been so open! We appeal to all those responsible to return to the path of EU reform and continue with further steps on it. Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs in the EU, and Germany will continue to stand by Bosnia and Herzegovina in this!”
