The High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas stated that there is no need for international intervention and supervision in BiH to the extent that the domestic authorities are capable of taking on the responsibility of decision-making, and that the citizens of BiH certainly deserve the security and brighter future that joining the European Union brings.
Kallas arrived on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and began the program with a visit to the headquarters of the EUFOR mission Althea in Camp Butmir.
“It is good to be back in BiH. The EUFOR mission Althea helps secure the future of BiH and I would like to personally thank all of you who work here from EU forces and other countries. Your professionalism and dedication are the key to the success of this mission,” she said.
EUFOR and Security: Rapid Response and Mandate Extension
Emphasizing that security and peace in the world are under threat, Kallas said that the EU reacted quickly in the event of a threat to the integrity of BiH and deployed additional forces in March. She added that the regular annual exercise “Rapid Response” was a success.
She also welcomed the recent unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council for a one-year extension of the EUFOR Althea mission.
“The world has recognized that you are keeping Bosnia and Herzegovina safe. Thirty years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, the EU will continue to do everything it can to prevent any security vacuum in this country. We will not allow history to repeat itself. Of course, we hope that BiH will be able to move forward,” she said.
Political opportunities and easing tensions
She added that the latest developments in the entity National Assembly of Republika Srpska represent an opportunity to ease tensions in BiH, and that fair and just elections for the president of that entity can restore trust in the government.
“The people of BiH deserve security and that is what joining the European Union brings. It is the best guarantee of a brighter future for the country. The window of opportunity for EU enlargement is wide open and your political leaders must seize that opportunity or the window will close again,” she said. She recalled that the adoption of the Reform Agenda by the BiH Council of Ministers could unlock nearly a billion euros in investments for BiH. She emphasized that every reform improves the quality of life of citizens.
“Tomorrow, the European Commission will present our Enlargement Report. I expect our recommendations to address relevant areas, including the laws on the judiciary and the appointment of the Chief Negotiator,” she said, calling on the BiH political leadership to stay on the path of reforms.
She also said that her second visit to Sarajevo in six months shows how much she personally advocates and supports BiH’s European path, adding that she is convinced that BiH belongs to the European family.
Supervision and domestic capacity of authorities
When asked by journalists, Kallas stressed that supervision in the form of the OHR and the Bonn Powers should be phased out to the extent that the capacity of domestic authorities to assume responsibility grows.
“The EU has a clear position that this is your country and that there is no need for international interventions, especially 30 years after the war. However, domestic capacity of authorities for decision-making is necessary,” she said and reiterated the importance of implementing reforms on the European path.
When asked whether Milorad Dodik is a partner of the EU and to what extent the EU and the US are coordinating on this issue, Kallas replied that he is a partner of BiH and its elected authorities.
“Our partner is BiH and all the actors here, that means the government. We are aware of the complex structure and organization, and different political entities. This is a democracy, democracy should be respected, just like constitutional regulations, when this is respected and when there is a capacity for decision-making, then there is no need for international intervention. Only when these conditions are met can we proceed with the gradual phasing out of international supervision,” she said, AA writes.
