Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only EU partner in the Western Balkans that has not finalized its Reform Agenda, which is a key prerequisite for participation in the Growth Plan. If it does not do this work by the end of April, it risks missing out on an investment of over two billion marks, as well as the accompanying reforms aimed at growth.
This was stated for Nezavisne novine by Ferdinand Koenig, spokesperson of the EU Delegation in Sarajevo. At the same time, domestic authorities assure that the deadlines will be met, without specifying how.
The growth plan for the Western Balkans is an opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive more than two billion marks in exchange for concrete reforms that will create conditions for stronger economic growth, including more functional institutions, a stronger rule of law and a better business climate. However, time is short, and domestic institutions are slow to do their work, the EU warned.
FERDINAND KOENIG, spokesperson of the EU Delegation in Sarajevo
“In addition to investments and reforms, the Growth Plan opens opportunities for Bosnia and Herzegovina to have greater access to the European single market of over 450 million consumers, as well as to establish a common regional market in the Western Balkans.”
Domestic authorities assure that the deadlines will be met. According to an unwritten rule, they shift responsibility to each other and to third parties.
BORJANA KRIŠTO, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“I hope that all actors will be so responsible and aware that if only one does not participate, it will have a negative impact on life and the economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
PREDRAG KOJOVIĆ, representative in PD PSBiH
“I think we will manage to do it and get the money. That the deadline will be extended. We could have been excellent students and handed it in on time, but now we are asking for an additional deadline.”
Dejan Šajinović, a journalist who has been following this area for years, is not an optimist. Even additional deadlines, he says, cannot help Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DEJAN ŠAJINOVIĆ, journalist
“There is a lack of political will, coordination, lack of expertise, we have an excess of corruption in politics, we see what happened in Sarajevo and what is happening everywhere, I am afraid of that.”
As a reminder, the list should include reforms in eight key areas that Bosnia and Herzegovina received when it was granted candidate status, and part of the work was done through the adoption of several reform laws in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, due to blockades, divisions, quarrels and the impossibility of reaching an agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are once again asking the EU for extensions, BHRT writes.
