Summary: Delivery on reforms is key to progress on the European road of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Remarks by EU Commissioner Rehn (14 March 2007: Strasbourg)
Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, "Delivery on reforms is key to progress on the European road of Bosnia and Herzegovina", Remarks to the European Parliament on Bosnia and Herzegovina (Pack Report), Strasbourg
President, Honourable Members,
I would like to congratulate Ms Pack for your excellent report on Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is an important contribution for our work.
2006 was not a year of success for Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result of an extended election campaign, the reform agenda stagnated and the political climate turned sour, leading to nationalist rhetoric and tensions. We've had enough of it.
Let me update you on the state of talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to make progress, albeit slowly. In December we were able to finalise the technical talks on the SAA-agreement.
However, we will not conclude the SAA negotiations before concrete progress has been made on two key conditions: the police reform and the co-operation with the War Crimes Tribunal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens need an efficient police. It is important that the state and entity authorities, together with the political parties, finally agree on the reform in line with the Police Restructuring Directorate's proposal and the three EU principles.1
Bosnia and Herzegovina also needs to show that it is serious in its commitment to cooperate with the ICTY. Recent actions by Republika Srpska to crack down some support networks of the fugitives are encouraging. The authorities must now remain proactive and continue their efforts, aiming of course at concrete results.
It is important that the recent judgment of the International Court of Justice in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Serbia is accepted and respected by all. The verdict underlines individual responsibility and thus the absolute necessity of full cooperation with the ICTY.
There have been attempts to politicise the ICJ verdict, which is regrettable, because it hinders reconciliation - and because it takes the attention away from more important maters, such as solving the police reform. This does not benefit the country nor its citizens
We also need to see progress on the reforms of public broadcasting and public administration before signing the SAA agreement.
President, Honourable Members,
For the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a constitutional reform is essential. It is necessary to make the country functional, efficient and affordable. This process should be led by Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on consensus and supported by the entities and peoples.
The adoption of the "April package" from last year would be an important first step towards more ambitious objectives. The Commission is ready to support this work by funds and experts.
The Commission continues to promote people-to-people contacts between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the EU. The visa facilitation negotiations have progressed well, and we should be able to conclude the negotiations very soon. Our aim is to have the visa facilitation and readmission agreements in force with all Western Balkan countries before the end of this year.
Other measures include scholarships through the Erasmus Mundus programme, and increased support for research, education and civil society dialogue.
International presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina is in transformation. As a transitional measure, the Commission can support the decision of the Peace Implementation Council to delay the closure of the Office of the High Representative by 12 months.
President, Honourable Members,
We have critical months ahead with Bosnia-Herzegovina, also taking into account the Kosovo status talks. The leaders of the country, on their part, must rise above parochial party interests and show statesmanship for the sake of their country and its people.
As long as everyone does his or her part, we can succeed in bringing Bosnia- Herzegovina towards its European future. I am glad that I can count on the solid support of the European Parliament for this goal.
1 The EU principles related to police reform: 1) all budgetary and legislative matters to be handled at the state level; 2) no political interference in policing; 3) policing regions to be determined by technical criteria
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