The OHR is not standing in the way of the European path, but a security net preventing Bosnia and Herzegovina from taking the wrong path. The European Union wants expansion, but without serious reforms, Bosnia and Herzegovina will not achieve essential progress, Bodo Weber, Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council in Berlin, told BHRT.
The relations between Brussels and Washington, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path, and the election of the new High Representative were topics of conversation with Bodo Weber, who appeared live as a guest on BHT1.
Speaking about the relationship between European integration and the future of the Office of the High Representative, Weber highlighted that he does not believe a change at the helm of this institution could significantly impact the reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The OHR is the security net that should prevent Bosnia and Herzegovina from taking a wrong path. It is not true that the OHR is standing in the way of the European path. On the contrary, if Bosnia and Herzegovina were to seriously head towards the European Union, then this would create conditions for the closing down of the OHR,” Weber said.
Reforms Remain Despite the EU Concessions
Commenting on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s perspective in a couple of years, Weber assessed that the formal steps the European Union is taking are not followed by real reforms in the country.
Following the start of the war in Ukraine, he reminded that the European Union eased its accession policy and created an opportunity for the development of the Western Balkan countries, but Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to seize that opportunity.
“In the last two decades, Bosnia and Herzegovina did not set out on a real reform path. The European Union made political concessions, but without essential reform dynamics,” Weber believes.
European Union Wants Progress, but without Pressuring Political Elites
According to him, Brussels is aware that Bosnia and Herzegovina is stagnating, but also wants to present the expansion policy as successful.
Speaking about the visit of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, Weber recalled that she warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing significant funds from the Growth Plan due to a lack of reforms.
“At the same time, she did not name the politicians responsible for that money loss. The European Union wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to progress, but it is not implementing a serious policy that would pressure domestic elites to implement reforms,” Weber said.
All Doors Are Opened, but Political Will Is Lacking
Weber believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina still has a chance to make up for lost time if it demonstrates true political will for reforms.
The European Union is ready to accelerate the expansion process. The doors are open to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but domestic political elites do not want to go through them,” he highlighted.
He added that the current political system favors maintaining existing power relations, which is why there is no real interest in reforms that would strengthen the rule of law.
Three Key Conditions for the EU Path Continuation
Speaking about priorities Bosnia and Herzegovina has to meet;Weber recalled the 2019 European Commission opinion and the reforms reduced to three key conditions.
“These include appointing the chief negotiator, adopting the new law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, and the Law on Courts. However, political elites were not ready to implement even these minimal reform steps during this mandate,” Weber concluded.
