The European Commission said that Bosnia and Herzegovina must pass a set of necessary laws by March in order to open negotiations for membership in the Union. It seems that BiH politicians heard only the message that the door is open, but not that they cannot go through that door empty-handed. How much can we, and how much do we want, and how did we understand the European Commission’s Report, if everyone still holds his own side?
Conditional green light for BH is characterized by politicians as a great success on BiH’s European path. Criticism – that unclear part that will be clarified for us in December.
“We know that it is conditional, we know that the consent for negotiations was given conditionally, now we are waiting to see the clear conditions of what those are. Then let’s put it on the table,” says BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković.
And the report of the European Commission is clear. Key laws, then the opening of negotiations for membership, and only then European Union funds. How seriously we took the criticism is shown by the fact that at today’s session of the Council of Ministers there was not a single European law, the ministers are justifying themselves – the agenda proposed before the Report. It’s as if the ministers heard only praise and continued in that tone, and the dispute is easily resolved, they say, referring to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering, the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest and the Law on Courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I think that the three key laws that are in dispute can be agreed upon in a future period, in a very short period of time, because there are still some issues that can be agreed upon”, believes BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez.
“What is expected of us is the Law on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Next week I have a meeting with the representatives of the Republika Srpska, to see if we finally agree on these positions. For now, as far as I can see, the seat of East Sarajevo or Banjaluka is still disputed, to make some compromise. In regarding criminal jurisdictions, we are also trying to harmonize positions and I think we are close,” states the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Davor Bunoza.
The ministers know, as did the EU parliamentarians, that it was the Law on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that blocked the continuation of the adoption of European laws. Despite the ministers’ optimism that the issue will be resolved quickly, it is clear that the key issues are not agreed upon at the Council of Ministers or working groups, but at the meetings of the leaders of the parties of the ruling coalition. Although the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly stated that the seat of the Appellate Council must be in East Sarajevo.
“I can’t believe at all that someone is trying to model on the order of Murphy and Sattler, and they come from the structure of our partners, to say East Sarajevo, not Banjaluka. What? Why? Then they try to find other justifications, and then come out here and then say that the Republika Srpska is disputing something. If it belongs to the Republika Srpska, then let the Republika Srpska say in which city it will be,” says BiH Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Staša Košarac.
The removal of the item on the agreement with Frontex from the agenda of today’s session is not in favor of the European path either, because the competent minister was not in the country. This law will be discussed at the next session on Monday.
