This Wednesday, the European Commission will publish the long-awaited Report on Enlargement. The Report will contain recommendations for as many as 10 countries, among which should be Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our country is known for its optimism, and not only in sports. It is the same this time, when – despite the fact that we did not fulfill everything that the European Union asked of us, we hope for a positive report. Mainly thanks to geopolitical circumstances.
Day D for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European journey or a new disappointment? Compared to high expectations, less progress. Two options, but first homework check. It adds up what has been done and subtracts what has been missed. For the leader of optimism, the EU path has no alternative. The talks will continue.
“I think the report we are expecting will be positive for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, due to the environment in the EU, it is still being refined.
In the next 15 days, we expect a series of meetings of the partners who make up the majority in order to complete the 14 conditions”, says Dragan Čović, president of HDZ BiH.
So long list, pending progress. The Law on the Courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the stopping point of our country’s progress towards European integration. The state coalition wrote more than its predecessor on the list of achievements – was it enough?
“We can say that the state coalition made a step forward compared to the previous one. However, it is far from what we need”, stated Edin Forto, president of Our Party.
“I am not satisfied with the speed with which we fulfill our obligations, but, nevertheless, some things have been moved from the deadlock.” I sincerely hope that the report of the European Commission on the fulfillment of obligations for the start of negotiations on full membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union will be positive”, said Nermin Nikšić, president of SDP.
Optimistic announcements for the opening of negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of the year, postponed. Deadlines are being extended, but the helping hand remains extended.
“There are no dilemmas, the European Union offered a hand and concrete projects, funds, processes that mean a lot to these countries. We have a historic opportunity”, said Elmedin Konaković, president of NiP.
It’s not the first – it’s historical, and we missed it. The time is a blockade in which the rulers from the RS do not back down from the conditions. Without the expulsion of foreign judges from the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no agreement.
“The European Commission slightly redefines each of its reports. That is enough for the Bosniak side to act like they are at a buffet table, so they can do everything except what their public opinion cannot swallow”, commented Nikola Špirić, chairman of the House of Peoples of BiH (SNSD).
Swallowing the dumpling and reaching a compromise is not an option for all members of the state coalition. Although the latest meeting did not produce a deal, earlier achievements could influence the positive assessment. The rapid formation of government at the state level is an important factor. However, in BH nothing is black and white in the political training ground.
“These are positive steps that have been seen since January of this year with the new Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, where there are a certain number of issues and laws that have been on the agenda for a long time and have not moved”, says Adi Ćerimagić, analyst of the Initiative for European Stability.
“The report will be a political version of 50 shades of black and gray. There are no bright things, you can’t say this is a good thing and for this you get a five, but a two-one plus, possibly a three”, assesses political analyst Sead Numanović.
Therefore, the only thing that matters is that it is positive, because for a high grade, much more was needed than what was done. The responsibility is certainly on the domestic field, but for progress on the EU path, a unified attitude of the member states is also needed. Changes could eventually be brought about by geopolitical events – often decisive and weighing more than merit.
