The decision to extend the framework for the introduction of restrictive measures, given the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), until March 31st, 2024, adopted on Friday by the European Council, was conditioned by a very important change requested by Hungary.
Namely, it is about the fact that, as a condition for the adoption of the Decision on extending the framework for the introduction of sanctions, Hungary demanded to change the way of voting for the introduction of sanctions.
Thus, instead of the current qualified majority voting (QMV), in order to impose sanctions, from now on such a decision will require a unanimous decision.
This, in the context of sanctions against SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, means that, due to the well-known attitudes of Hungary and Croatia on this issue, they will obviously not happen, at least at the level of the entire European Union (EU).
It is another in a series of proofs that the foreign policy of the EU, at least when it comes to BiH, is not at the highest level. However, there is always the possibility that individual states will impose sanctions on Dodik on their own, which will probably happen in April.
But, this decision of the European Council leaves a bitter taste to those who have relied on specific EU measures.
Brussels analyst Toby Vogel agrees with this, saying on his Twitter profile that EU member states have given in to Viktor Orban and changed the voting conditions for sanctioning Dodik.
“From QMV to unanimity, which means it will never happen. And then the EU wonders why no one takes its policy towards the Balkans seriously,” Vogel wrote on Twitter.
E.Dz.
Source: klix.ba
