The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković held a meeting on October 2, 2026 with the delegation of the European Parliament led by Davor Ivo Stier, chairman of the Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and head of the observation mission for the upcoming general elections in BiH. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The minister welcomed the arrival of parliamentarians from various member states and political groups, whose broad representation contributes to the impartiality of the mission, and emphasized the importance of the integrity of elections and the freely expressed will of citizens. They discussed the European path of BiH, the functionality of institutions and the protection of European values.
Konaković pointed out that European integration brings concrete benefits to citizens and the economy through the gradual opening of the European market, investments and employment. He called for the support of the European Parliament so that the reform results of BiH would be objectively evaluated, and the decision to open accession negotiations followed by steps for their effective start.
He warned that the remaining laws of a technical nature are being blocked by abusing the mechanisms established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. He emphasized that the agreement that brought peace must not serve to prevent the work of institutions and the development of the country, and that precisely because of continuous obstructions, the OHR’s important role in protecting its implementation and the functionality of the state remains.
He highlighted the geopolitical dimension of the blockades, pointing to Milorad Dodik’s continuous visits to Moscow and the recent meeting with Vladimir Putin, during which Dodik publicly expressed his opposition to sanctions against Russia. He assessed that Russian support to the actors of the obstruction directly affects the ability of BiH institutions to make and implement decisions on the European path. In this context, he pointed to the expected visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, which was not realized due to the holding of elections, while Moscow demonstrated its active support for Dodik in the same period. He warned that the absence of visible European involvement weakens the influence of the EU and opens up space for Russia, stressing that European support must be most decisive precisely when BiH’s European path is contested.
Konaković referred to the plenary debate of the European Parliament on September 15, 2026 on the funeral of Ratko Mladić and the glorification of war crimes in Serbia, expressing regret that the resolution was not adopted. He also recalled the letter he sent to the Parliament, seeking a clear condemnation and a concrete response to the institutional glorification of a person legally convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. He pointed to the engagement of the government plane, the Minister of Justice and members of the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as Article 17 of the Law on the Serbian Armed Forces, which gives the President of the Republic the authority to decide on the use of the Armed Forces and order their engagement. He emphasized that the responsibility of President Aleksandar Vučić and the state leadership cannot be separated from the actions of state institutions.
In contrast, he recalled that his first visits after assuming office were to the countries of the region, confirming BiH’s commitment to good neighborly relations and cooperation based on mutual respect. He pointed out that the institutional glorification of war criminals shows the absence of the same responsibility on the other side and undermines reconciliation, while respect for judgments and the dignity of victims must be the same standard for all countries aspiring to EU membership.
Recalling the messages from Pržno, the minister emphasized that BiH, by fully harmonizing with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, has shown its commitment to European principles and expects the same consistency from the EU in their protection.
He called on the European Parliament to advocate unblocking BiH’s European path through resolutions, the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and dialogue with the EU Council and the Commission, and condemn the institutional glorification of war criminals and request appropriate measures from competent institutions. He concluded that a credible European policy requires recognition of reform progress, a decisive response to obstructions and consistent protection of European values.
