At the regular semi-annual session of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, High Representative Christian Schmidt presented his latest report on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that the country is going through one of the most serious crises since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, but also stressed that “the danger of war does not exist”.
He highlighted the importance of Resolution 1031, which the UN Security Council adopted in December 1995, as well as the upcoming commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement at the end of May this year in Dayton, where representatives of BiH, Serbia, Croatia, NATO and the international community will gather.
Rising tensions, but no security crisis
Schmidt stressed that the reporting period was marked by a “significant increase in tensions”, especially in the first quarter of 2025.
“This is an extraordinary crisis – the most severe since Dayton – but I still see no indications that it is a security crisis”, said the High Representative.
According to him, the situation worsened after the verdict against entity President Milorad Dodik, who then intensified his attacks on the constitutional order, even pointing to the possibility of secession. “The speed of adopting laws in the entity shows that the documents on this were prepared earlier. This is contrary to Dayton, and the Constitutional Court of BiH annulled all those laws,” Schmidt pointed out.
He also warned about the establishment of entity laws that conflict with state jurisdiction, which further undermined political stability and slowed down the reform process towards the EU.
Citizens’ appeal and the position of the international community
Schmidt said that citizens are increasingly asking him: “Can you, Mr. Schmidt, prevent war from breaking out again?” His answer is clear: “There is no danger of war.” However, he warned about “the inflammatory rhetoric and insults that certain actors are using, questioning the survival of BiH in accordance with the Dayton Agreement”.
He praised employees in state institutions, especially from Republika Srpska, who did not follow illegal orders, despite pressure, as well as opposition parties who clearly expressed their opposition to such actions.
Speaking about the Croatian community, Schmidt emphasized their commitment to European integration and dialogue, and cited the situation in Mostar as a positive example, where local actors solved problems without external interference.
Discrimination and electoral reform
Speaking on the rule of law, the High Representative recalled the importance of implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including the Sejdić-Finci, Komšić and Ljubić cases. He said that discrimination must be urgently addressed, and that constitutional changes must be in line with European standards.
“The people of BiH can live together. The communities do not support secessionism or extremism. You have plenty of evidence of that. The international community must help these people and show that they are not forgotten,” Schmidt said.
Economic stability, demographic decline and environmental challenges
While the economic situation in BiH is stable, Schmidt warned of a serious demographic decline, especially among young people, and stressed the need for better data to understand the real situation. He also cited the continuation of natural disasters and the importance of environmental protection.
“We cannot ignore reality. The Dayton Agreement remains the foundation for BiH, but it must be further developed, not questioned,” Schmidt said.
He called on political leaders to focus on the European Commission’s 14 priorities, combating threats, strengthening the functionality of the state and implementing reforms that will ensure a prosperous future.
“No individual is above the law,” Schmidt concluded, adding that the OHR was never meant to be a permanent institution, but that all BiH’s EU aspirations should be built on the Dayton system.
