European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi told Hungarian newspaper Nemzet that his position on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was clear and consistent and that allegations about his agreement with Milorad Dodik were false.
Varhelyi stressed that it was his and the expectation of the EU that Bosnian Serbs would return to the institutions. Neither BiHnor even the Republika Srpska (RS) has an interest in segregation, which prevents the work of institutions, Varhelyisaid, adding that he made it clear to Dodik.
On how worried he is about the current instability in the country, Varhelyi said:
”BiH is in a difficult phase. I see the problem in the fact that the critical period has nothing to do with external factors. Today, the country is in a state of disrepair due to domestic political motives.
This is a security challenge for the Western Balkans, and even for Europe as a whole. For this reason, all, all three communities and their leaders must work to make the country look forward, work, and, at the same time, strengthen internal cohesion. I would call more and more times to guarantee the functioning of the BiH institutions and the Presidency, but also the government, ” Varhelyi explained.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement pointed out that our country is facing a unique and potentially one-time chance to move towards integration through the EU’s economic and investment plan.
”If other countries in the region use this opportunity, and BiH lags behind, it could be with potentially unpredictable consequences. As for nationalist celebrations, I don’t think it will help the situation. Besides, there are issues in the Federation that are not specific to the RS context but need to be finally resolved. BiH faces a unique and potentially one-time chance to move towards integration through the EU’s economic and investment plan, ” Varhelyi concluded.
