The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, announced that 70 million euros from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina have been irretrievably lost.
In a post on the X social network, Christian Schmidt also criticized attempts to solve the problem, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina would not be left without the entire amount of one billion euros.
“The High Representative notes with surprise that Bosnia and Herzegovina missed the opportunity to receive 70 million euros from the EU Growth Plan, but welcomes the intensive and detailed activities of numerous leading political actors in the state coalition in order to reach a solid and progressive program with the EU,” OHR announced.
He went on to say that the biggest losers are the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that an important opportunity has been missed so far.
“Citizens were left with no chance to get urgently needed money for public investments. They have the right to expect responsibility, not anti-state or anti-Dayton activities from individuals who clearly did not understand the seriousness of this situation,” he pointed out.
He singled out the authorities in the Republika Srpska entity as the culprits for this situation.
“Things are very simple – if the RS fulfills its constitutional obligations, ends the long and unpleasant political games and appoints good judges to the Constitutional Court, stops the irrational blocking of projects, the necessary conditions will be met. As things stand now, it is clear that the responsibility lies with the irresponsible and the unprofessional blocking approach of the RS leadership, which harms not only the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina but also the citizens of the RS. It’s time for politicians in the RS to overcome amateurism and finally start dealing with real politics,” OHR quoted Christian Schmidt as saying.
Let’s remind, as the EU Delegation in BiH confirmed for Klix.ba, the reason for the loss of this money is the sending of a document that is not fully harmonized.
Of the 113 measures requested from Bosnia and Herzegovina, our authorities sent a document with agreed 110 measures, and three measures were left aside due to the protests of the authorities in the smaller Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, Klix.ba writes.