It was found out from diplomatic circles that the European Union (EU) will offer conditional candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today. A discussion on the conditions is expected at the summit of the leaders of the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans. As it was found out, it’s about these are four laws from the Brussels Agreement: The Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), the Law on Public Procurement, the Law on Conflict of Interest, and the Law on Courts.
To recall, with the political agreement from Brussels, the EU presented the principles that would ensure a functioning state, and accelerate the European path of BiH. There are 19 points in the agreement, and among them is the one that requires the implementation of reforms. This point has been changed from the original version. So in the final, instead of after the elections, the adoption of reform laws is ordered six months after the formation of government at all levels. The reason – preventing the blockade of important state processes. At the same time, this point expresses the hope of the EU that the government will be formed in a timely manner, which has not been the practice of the elected government so far.
Urgently and no later than within six months from the formation of the government at the state level, adopt:
a. the Law on the HJPC of BiH and the Law on Courts;
b. Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest;
c. Law on Public Procurement;
d. electoral reforms and limited constitutional reforms to the extent necessary to ensure full compliance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of BiH.
These laws are part of 14 priorities from the Opinion of the European Commission, which have been together for years in the corner of BiH politics.
Earlier this week, Slovenia officially sent a request to the Council of the EU for candidate status to BiH. Slovenia’s proposal also had its conditions, which, as stated at the beginning of this text, are reflected in the laws contained in the political agreement, which the BiH political parties reached in the Brussels talks. It should also be reminded that this proposal was also supported by EU member states, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, and Poland, Federalna writes.
E.Dz.
