Today in Brussels the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, addressed the Western Balkans Working Group of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament. Inzko presented the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and urged that current challenges in BiH be taken very seriously. The EU, including the European Parliament, needs to be proactively engaged in order to reverse the current negative political trends.
In his speech, HR/EUSR Inzko emphasised that in the last four years BiH has been in a political stalemate. Despite nominal progress on the EU agenda, not a single new reform has been adopted that would give the state the increased competencies needed for active participation in the EU accession process. Instead of progress, said Inzko, there have been frequent challenges against the state-level institutions, as well as against the Dayton Peace Agreement, the High Representative and his powers, including efforts to undo reforms which were preconditions for signing of the SAA.
Having in mind all the problems that BiH is facing and the lack of progress, HR/EUSR Inzko told the Members of the European Parliament that there is a need for a renewed effort for BiH. He also listed the issues that require immediate action in order to move towards the closure of the OHR and progress on the EU agenda. Of outmost importance is to make it clear to the political leaders that the current challenges to the Dayton Agreement and the High Representative’s powers are unacceptable.