The Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Borjana Kristo, stated that at an urgent session two days ago a draft reform agenda with a list of measures was adopted, thereby confirming institutional responsibility and a clear commitment to the European path of BiH, and announced the visit of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
“We showed that we can, as well as take responsibility despite everything, although we missed a lot of that time, but our commitment to reform processes is clear, and that we are unquestionably for the European path of BiH,” said Kristo.
She emphasized that the adoption of the draft reform agenda does not mean the work is finished, but only beginning. The document has already been sent to the European Commission, and the inter-consultation phase follows.
“The European Union (EU) will analyze how the measures have been set in terms of deadlines, activity holders, and everything that has already been communicated with the Directorate for Neighborhood and Enlargement during the first phase of harmonization,” she stated.
Intensive communication with EU partners
Kristo expressed hope that there would not be significant comments on the document, given the intensive communication with European partners during the preparation.
“We had a lot of that communication, some things we resolved along the way with them, so there should not be many objections. Of course, after that follows implementation. This is a pure opportunity. All levels of government in BiH come to the fore, how they will relate to specific projects and programs, and thereby to financial resources and everything that is good for all of us,” explained Kristo.
She also announced a focus on other obligations that BiH has on the European path.
“Already next week we expect the visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This is an opportunity to strongly send the message that we are committed, that it is in the interest us in BiH, and then of everyone else, especially in the context of relations within the EU and the world,” she said.
Speaking about the timeframe for feedback from Brussels, Kristo emphasized that BiH cannot speak on behalf of other institutions, because that, in her words, would be unserious.
She added that the European Commission, as a bureaucratic and administrative institution, must go through formal procedures.
The next step, as she explained, is the signing of the contract, the instrument on the loan and grant funds.
“The first advance tranche would probably be paid, and everything else is tied to projects. That depends on how fast and advanced we will be, which level of government will react,” she emphasized.
Key reform obligations
Kristo added that BiH will immediately analyze the comments on the draft reform agenda, and that, based on the level of implementation, funds will be withdrawn.
“Some things we have already done, so we will know to what percentage we have realized a certain part. The measures concern all levels of government, from cantons, through entities, to the state level,” said the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH.
“Corrections to the Growth Plan document are not possible because we are not changing anything on our side. The document is identical. The European Commission, that is, the Directorate for Neighborhood and Enlargement, delivered the measures that were harmonized. They are listed, redefined in the part that refers to the Constitutional Court and the Competition Council, and it is foreseen that those measures will be implemented through legislation and reforms. For the Constitutional Court, the deadline is roughly June 2026,” stated Kristo when asked whether the reform agenda adopted at the urgent session differs from the one that was rejected at the previous telephone session.
Regular session and adopted projects
Referring to yesterday’s regular session of the Council of Ministers, Kristo stated that there were about 26 items on the agenda.
“We did not manage to express ourselves on everything, for some items we had understanding and support, but it is good that we discussed them,” she said, and particularly highlighted three grants that were adopted: the draft agreement on the grant for water supply and sewage in the Republika Srpska (RS), the draft decision on the ratification of the agreement for the modernization of the Capljina pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, and the agreement with the European Investment Bank for Corridor Vc, section Medakovo-Poprikuse.
“These are projects of interest for BiH, for the development of infrastructure, local communities, and everything that life means in this area,” said Kristo.
She added that there was also discussion on the rulebook on the systematization of the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data, which proposes an increase in the number of executors for more efficient implementation of the law.
