The Council for Stabilization and Association with the European Union will hold a meeting in Brussels on July 19, and the main topic is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Whether Bosnia and Herzegovina has a chance for an accelerated European path will be known after the outcome of the meeting of Bosnia and Herzegovina officials on Monday, at which all three parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina will submit proposals for de-escalating the crisis.
The meeting and negotiations will take place thanks to the initiative of the director of the European Union’s External Affairs Service, Angelina Eichhorst. During her recent visit, she said that the European Union will not tolerate the undermining of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and appealed to the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to work on dialogue and compromise. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH says that all parties will offer de-escalation on Monday – what is acceptable in order for BiH to move forward.
ELMEDIN KONAKOVIĆ, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Let’s agree to talk as soon as possible about state property, the Constitutional Court, the position of foreign judges within, not about leaving, these are topics that can be discussed every day. We don’t really have the strength for an ultimatum.”
The President of Republika Srpska claims that for the essential de-escalation of the crisis in BiH, it is necessary to withdraw the last decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH. He proposed conditions for calming the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that he is for the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and not for the escalation of the conflict.
MILORAD DODIK, President of the Republika Srpska
“Those of us who are accused of some kind of disturbance are ready to talk about that 14 plus expansion package, not to be dead on those issues. If there is an accelerated path for others, why shouldn’t it be for BiH as well.”
The Coalitiom of Three and HDZ BiH are in favor of accelerated entry into the European Union and the urgent adoption of the law on the courts of BiH, prevention of conflicts of interest and the HJSC.
HDZ BiH
“On the basis of continuous efforts to accelerate the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the successful implementation of reform processes, HDZ BiH calls on political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to fully commit to the implementation of 14 key priorities.”
Analysts estimate that BiH is still far from the European Union due to serious conflicts and an institutional crisis. In the best case, they say, BiH can get encouragement from Brussels.
DRAGO VUKOVIĆ, political analyst
“In the long term, this country can survive on the principle of internal negotiations, and the time has come for political elites to sit down and start seriously agreeing on how Bosnia and Herzegovina should look like in the future.”
ADI ĆERIMAGIĆ, analyst
“The issue of the office of the High Representative, the reform of the Constitutional Court, all of this is part of the EU agenda. The manner in which it is tried to be put on the agenda, as well as the setting of conditions that are categorical, do not contribute to the fact that no agreement or compromise is found in BiH, and above all, it shows the weakness of the EU in BiH and the region.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s politicians are on the move. Will they reach a compromise and start fulfilling the 14 priorities for the opening of negotiations for the entry of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union. Or will they continue with exclusivity and deepening the crisis, the consequences of which will be suffered by the citizens.
