The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed the Presidency’s Decision of 25 March to send draft constitutional amendments to the BiH Parliament.
“It is now time for the proper democratic process in Parliament to take place and for the people’s representatives to assess these amendments, which will strengthen the Council of Ministers and the BiH Parliament and streamline the Presidency,” the High Representative said.
“This reform is a first step towards making the state of BiH more functional, better able to meet the needs of its citizens, and equip it better to meet the requirements for EU integration,” he added.
The High Representative looks forward to comment from the Venice Commission on this important issue. There is now a very tight timetable in order to allow proper parliamentary process while at the same time ensuring that these changes can be put in place in time for the 2006 elections. If parliament cannot ratify this agreement in time, any changes to strengthen the Council of Ministers and the Parliament and streamline the Presidency would not come into effect until the 2010 elections.