The highest international representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) sent a letter to Council of Ministers Chairman Zoran Tegeltija and Deputy Speakers Vjekoslav Bevanda and Bisera Turkovic, warning that the international community retains the necessary instruments to support the Peace Agreement and protect general elections.
”In accordance with the Law on Financing of BiH Institutions, the BiH Council of Ministers, the BiH Presidency, and the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (PABiH) should have completed all steps towards the adoption of the BiH Institutions Budget and BiH international obligations for 2021 and 2022 by the end of 2021,” it was explained in the letter.
The lack of annual state budgets for 2021 and 2022, despite the recent adoption of the Global Fiscal Framework 2022-2024, is a consequence of the non-functioning of state-level institutions and the decision-making process, forcing BiH institutions to use temporary financing in the last 15 months.
The recent adoption of the Decision on Temporary Financing for the second quarter of this year by the Council of Ministers does not indicate a change in the way of ensuring continuous financing of BiH institutions in the upcoming period.
Uncertain and inadequate funding of BiH institutions from 2012 onwards, and especially in recent years, directly affects their ability to fully meet their constitutional and legal responsibilities, to fulfill their obligations efficiently and effectively, and, ultimately, to provide the best service to citizens.
It is particularly worrying that the situation is further exacerbated by the failure to meet the constitutional and legal obligations of the BiH authorities when it comes to the financing of expenditures necessary for the functioning of BiHinstitutions.
The organization of general elections is the responsibility of the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC) while assisting the CEC in carrying out this task is the responsibility of BiH authorities. Ensuring the financing of elections, in particular, is the responsibility of the BiH Council of Ministers and the BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
”In case this obligation is not fulfilled, when BiH clearly has the available funds, we remind that the international community retains the necessary instruments to support the Peace Agreement and protect the holding of general elections, ” it was mentioned in the letter signed by High Representative Christian Schmidt, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation Johan Sattler, and the ambassadors of Germany, Japan, Canada, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.
