Next week, Bosnia and Herzegovina should politically harmonize the remaining conditions in order to implement the adoption procedures and enable the European Union to decide on the opening of membership negotiations during March, Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH, told BHRT.
From the shortened list of conditions, the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Organizations was adopted, as well as open negotiations with Frontex. What remains is the harmonization of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest and the Law on Courts.
Very little effort is needed to harmonize the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest, believes working group member Predrag Kojović. Of the 15 recommendations of the European Union, the majority were accepted, and the definitions of the criteria for the selection of commission members and the question of jurisdiction remained.
Predrag Kojović, member of the Working Group for the Law on Prevention of Conflicts of Interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “It is possible that the EU will make a positive decision even if we adopt such a law that is not fully in line with EU standards, but the matter is in our hands, and I would like us to do our job 100%.”
The European Union insists on the constitutional definition of the ethnic distribution of seats in the Commission, while HDZ BiH insists on a more precise definition. On the other hand, SNSD insists on preserving entity jurisdiction in this area. The opposition fears that up to
Radovan Kovačević, delegate in the House of Peoples of the PSBiH (SNSD): “We believe that everything in BiH that is not the jurisdiction of BiH can be adopted by legal solutions that concern only the institutions of BiH. I spoke about it at the sessions of the House of Peoples and at the sessions of all other committees.”
Ilija Cvitanović, delegate in the House of Peoples of the PSBiH (HDZ 1990): “Unfortunately, I’m afraid of the political trend and I’m afraid whether we will succeed in this short period ahead of us, which we don’t need for the EU, but for ourselves.”
Time is running out. Next week, the remaining laws must be harmonized in order to pass the procedure through the Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly on time, says Minister Forto.
Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Reason is needed, it is necessary that some daily politics be overcome by some wisdom. To open negotiations and then through those negotiations with the EU address all the pressing issues of any political group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but when you do it from a European perspective through European negotiations, then it makes sense. When you do it like this, it’s just daily politics.”
However, there are reservations even if the European Union decides to open negotiations.
Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska: “We will redefine our policy if this happens to allow the negotiation process without a date.”
On the one hand, there is a belief that the need for the European Union to embrace the Western Balkan region with minimum conditions will prevail due to the global security crisis. On the other hand, the irreconcilable political relations within Bosnia and Herzegovina do not give too much hope for the fulfillment of the domestic task.
Sanja Tepavčević, analyst: “And I think that the external situation, the war in Ukraine, the elections and polarization in America, the strengthening of China, which must be mentioned, will have a greater impact on the acceleration of accession negotiations, not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the entire Western Balkans.
Mladen Bubonjić, analyst: “When it comes to the law on courts, who knows, maybe something is being negotiated there, but taking into account what has happened so far, there are almost irreconcilable positions not only about the headquarters but also about the judges. I’m afraid that spears will break on that law, but then again, who knows, maybe an offer will be made that I can’t refuse.”
The echoes of the visit to Brussels by the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, indicate that there is a similar dilemma within the members of the European Union as to whether the strategic interest of the Union will prevail or what the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina put on the table, BHRT writes.
