The European Union (EU) officials gathered around the EUForeign Affairs Council are supposed to sit down again at the end of the month to discuss a number of political and security issues currently affecting European security and the situation in individual countries.
Although it is expected that the topic of discussion will be primarily Ukraine and the situation in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, the foreign ministers of the EU member states should put Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the current political crisis in our country on the agenda again.
Namely, European officials should discuss again the introduction of sanctions against Republika Srpska (RS)officials, primarily Milorad Dodik, whose activities were condemned by the ministers of many European countries.
So far, the most direct in the accusations against the RS authorities was German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who has repeatedly stressed since taking office as German foreign minister that Germany and all other European countries should react to Dodik’s announcement of RS withdrawal from state institutions.
“We are in close contact with our partners in the EU, but also with the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK). These are topics that are currently being discussed in order to put a clear ‘stop’ sign on such unacceptable secessionist tendencies. Of course, when will they be adopted depend not only on the Federal Government of Germany but also on coordination with European partners, “ told former German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger.
Change of positions within the EU
What has been known for a long time is the fact that there are countries that openly support the introduction of sanctions at the level of the EU to Milorad Dodik and other officials from the RS entities. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are openly advocating sanctions, as well as the Czech Republic, Spain, and the Scandinavian countries.
Even though there have been clear and open announcements that some countries will not support sanctions against Dodik, certaincountries, which have not advertised too much about possible sanctions against Dodik, have sharpened their positions after the latest events in the RS National Assembly, but also after marking the unconstitutional RS Day on January 9th.
The countries that have been quite reserved so far, especially Austria, Italy, and France, are getting closer to the views of Germany and other countries that a certain type of sanctions is necessary to prevent the activities of the governing structures in RS.
During the meeting on January 24th, it is expected that the states should very likely send a proposal to the European External Action Service (EEAS), chaired by Josep Borrell, which would include a request to prepare several sets of measures that could be used against Milorad Dodik, but also RS.
Some of the measures that could be found on the table include reducing contacts between European officials and organizations with the authorities and other entities in the RS, but also some much more extreme measures. One of them implies the redistribution and reduction of IPA funds, which could cause great economic damage to the RS, but also send a clear message that separatist activities lead to stronger measures.
The latest in a series of measures to be discussed in Brussels involves the formation of a set of sanctions that would accompany activities recently imposed by the U.S. State Department, such as restrictions on movement among EU member states and other similar measures.
Although the EU prefers consensus-based decision-making, due to the views of Hungary and some other countries, it is almost impossible to expect.
However, among the EU countries, which support sanctions, and which are increasingly joined by Austria, France, and Italy, the prevailing view is that if the EU cannot reach a consensus on sanctions, then countries must definitely adopt similar measures within their national laws opportunities.
If the list of countries that are in favor of sanctions is taken into account, the adoption of certain measures at the state level would be almost as strong as the adoption of the same decision at the level of the EU.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
