One year before the election is not the ideal time for compromise, but BiH does not have a choice, said the European Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Fule during a speech before the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Speaking about the need to implement the judgment of the European Court for Human Rights in the “Sejdić-Finci” case, Fule said that the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland made it clear that the next election cannot fulfill the European standards if this issue is not solved.
‘’Furthermore, the Stabilization and Association Agreement, as well as the application for EU membership are on hold until the “Sejdić-Finci” case is not implemented. Only when the Stabilization and Association Agreement enters into force can the EU be in a position to support BiH to address shortcomings of the Dayton Agreement, says Fule.
The Head of the Delegation and the Special Representative of the EU Peter Peter Sørensen received additional authorization and support of Brussels.
‘’ Catherine Ashton and I have given a clear sign that he enjoys our full support for increased engagement with political leaders and representatives of the government in the effort to assist BiH politicians in finding the necessary solutions for its European path’’, said Fule.
Also, the representative of BiH made it clear that two myths need to be removed regarding the implementation of “Sejdić-Finci”.
‘’The first is that it is not true that members of the EU will eventually reduce the criteria for membership to the EU if the BiH authorities do not succeed in its efforts to come to a mutual agreement. Second, it is also not true that the delay in implementing “Sejdić-Finci” will lead to a situation that contributes more to the decision after the election, because we will not consider those types of elections will meet the necessary standards. The solution is needed immediately’’, he said.
According to Fule, in this sense the role of institutions based in Strasbourg in helping BiH authorities is of crucial importance.
‘’You are involved in this as the Assembly, honorable President Jean-Claude Mignon and General Secretary Jagland. I would like to thank you for your cooperation until now and I ask you to continue our active participation. Dear all, in these difficult times in Europe, the process of enlargement is part of the solution. The EU will never, nor has it ever, been about erecting walls, but rather for erasing borders. There does not exist a stronger instrument for transformation than enlargement. We have to continue to use it wisely’’, said Fule, among other things, in his speech at the Council of Europe.
