Thursday’s vote by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in favour of a law establishing a separate High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) in the Republika Srpska constitutes an unacceptable violation of the constitutional and legal order of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
If the law is adopted, it will severely impact the rights of the citizens of Republika Srpska, deepening legal uncertainty and instability in the country’s judicial system, and seriously undermine BiH’s European perspective.
The EU urges BiH leaders, in particular the Republika Spska leadership, to put an end to escalatory steps, and instead ensure serious dialogue is resumed within State institutions, to address all the issues of concerns.
The EU is ready to use all the instruments available in its toolbox to help BiH overcome the current crisis and ensure the country refocuses fully on the reforms for its EU path as set out in the Opinion 14 key priorities. The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy has put the situation in BiH and actions undermining the unity of the country on the agenda of the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council.
