Last week the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina held their first Stabilisation and Association Council in two years, the first since the country received EU candidate status in December 2022.
As High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrellsaid: “Bosnia and Herzegovina went from political deadlock to political opportunity. The candidate status opened a new window of opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina that should be used for swift implementation of pending reforms and adaptation to EU standards”.
He continued: “Our expectation is that our partners will seize this momentum without delay and will make decisive progress on the reforms and commitments to European Union values”.
Sharing foreign policy and work for safety and security
The EU commended Bosnia and Herzegovina’s improvement of its alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. This signals the country’s commitment to the EU path. The High Representative stressed that restrictive measures need to be fully implemented.
The High Representative thanked Bosnia and Herzegovina for its contribution to the EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations abroad. He underlined that the EU is committed to the country’s defence capacities including via the European Peace Facility (EPF) support, through which the EU allocated €20 million to Bosnia and Herzegovina so far.
EUFOR Althea and its role in contributing to a safe and secure environment was also discussed by the parties. The press statement following the Council says: “Through its military Operation EUFOR Althea, the EU supports the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a safe and secure environment. The EU welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strong support to the executive mandate of EUFOR Althea and its continued presence for stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Focus the energies on EU accession and not on divisions
According to the EU, the recent legislative initiatives and announcements in the Republika Srpska as well as the secessionist rhetoric run counter to the EU path of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU deplored the adoption of legislation in Republika Srpskaon the inapplicability of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the entity. This legislation has no legal basis.
As the HRVP stressed: “Undermining the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be brought to an immediate end. These actions, if continued, could have serious consequences. Provocative divisive rhetoric and actions, including questioning the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country, and the glorification of convicted war criminals must stop, because there is no place in Europe for those engaged in such activities.”
Borrell continued: “I strongly believe that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina need political leaders that take concrete steps to promote an environment conducive to reconciliation to overcome the legacies of the past and take actions to improve the quality of life, bringing it in line with European standards. We are committed to the country’s European perspective, as a single, united and sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we will remain firmly by its side as it moves forwards on the European Union path.”
Stabilisation and Association Council
The 5th EU – Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council took place in Brussels on 19 July.
The Council reviewed the state of relations between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) under the Stabilisation and Association Process, in particular the pre-accession process in light of the Commission’s 2022 Report, with a focus on political criteria, economic criteria, the ‘acquis’, and pre-accession assistance.
EU High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell led the EU delegation, which included Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi and Foreign Ministers of Greece, Croatia and Slovenia. Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto led the BiH delegation.
