Are they in the midst of blocking the preparation of the Plan of key reforms of BiH in a decisive period when the European Commission urgently needs and expects the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Last week, due to the lack of quorum, the session of the Working Team for the development of the Reform Plan, necessary for the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, was not held. It is not known when it will be scheduled again. The chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, pointed out the importance of drafting and submitting the BiH Reform Plan.
After the constitutive session of the working team, the next one was not held. There were no representatives from Republika Srpska. Such moves do not necessarily have to be understood as obstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path, but rather the desire of political circles to force certain political solutions, explains journalist Amir Sužanj. The effect, he adds, is ultimately the same.
AMIR SUŽANJ, journalist of BH Radio 1
“We have, for example, Milorad Dodik, who says that without the law on the Constitutional Court, in which he means the departure of foreign judges from that institution, there is nothing of the other reform laws, therefore, with these conscious obstructions, the eventual decision of Brussels to open negotiations with our country is called into question, for the sake of internal political goals, which have nothing to do with the conditions for the continuation of the European path.”
The non-holding of the session is a reflection of current political events, according to experts. They note that this is a unique opportunity, and a serious task for domestic politicians, considering the benefits that are intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina, if the commitments undertaken are fulfilled.
HARIS PLAKALO, General Secretary of the European Movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Bosnia and Herzegovina should take advantage of the growth plan, first of all that is intended for BiH, a total of 6 billion…2 billion in grants and four billion in favorable grant loans. The money is intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also if if there are no reforms, there will be no movement, it can be diverted to other countries”.
Chairperson Kristo pointed out that the response to the proposal for indicative reforms was on January 22 of this year, and she emphasized that there is no additional room for delay. She expressed her belief that after the last unsuccessful meeting, the political deadlock in this process has been removed and that all actors are involved in compiling a list of key reforms. Connoisseurs of the situation state that there is currently no political consensus on this issue, which slows down the country’s European path.
DAVOR GENERO, political scientist
“Bosnia and Herzegovina must not send any bad signal to Brussels. Several countries strongly lobbied to get Bosnia into the Union through prose when there was no possibility for it to go through the door. In such conditions, the signal of the actions of the political class, that they don’t really care about the accession process, harms Bosnia and Herzegovina and the accession process.”
This plan is worth a total of 6 billion euros for the period from 2024 to 2027. If it fulfills its obligations, in addition to significant financial resources, Bosnia and Herzegovina will also send a clear message to the official Brussels, when it comes to the European path, BHRT writes.
