EU Presidency Statement - Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and the EFTA country, member of the European Economic Area, Iceland, declare that they align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

Since this is the first time that I am taking the floor under your Presidency, allow me to congratulate you on the assumption of your duties. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the previous President, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for his excellent job.

Mr. President,

The European Union attaches great importance to the work undertaken by the High Representative Lord Ashdown - whom we thank for his very comprehensive and enlightening report - and fully supports the priorities he has outlined since his arrival in Sarajevo: promoting first of all the rule of law and then dismantling barriers to business growth and job creation through reforms.

The European Union supports in particular the "Commission approach" to reforms. This approach was recently launched by the High Representative and has led to the establishment of ad hoc Commissions, made up of local representatives and international chairmen, that cover key subjects such as indirect tax policy, defence and intelligence.

Important progress has recently been made in the reform process, particularly in the field of the judiciary and defence. But much remains to be done to reinvigorate the economy and consolidate the central structures of the State. To this end, the responsibility lies in the hands of the local authorities, whose engagement in the reform process has to be clear and unambiguous. Their full cooperation with the entire international community is also crucial.

The European Union supports the unambiguous message of UN Security Council Resolution 1503 to the countries and parties in the region on the need to improve and intensify co-operation with the ICTY - in particular efforts to bring Karadzic, Mladic, and Gotovina to the ICTY. In this respect, the European Union recalls the pledge made by the countries of the region at the European Union-Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki in June 2003 to co-operate fully and unequivocally with the ICTY.

The European Union, which has already adopted measures against cooperation between the local network and ICTY indictees, reviews these measures on a regular basis. The European Union also supports the establishment of national special court chambers for war crimes and, in particular, the joint efforts of High Representative Lord Ashdown and the ICTY to establish a special chamber within the state court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr. President,

The European Union is fully involved in the reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European perspective of the Western Balkans countries was reaffirmed by the European Union Heads of State and Government at the Thessaloniki Summit last June. It represents an extremely powerful leverage for Bosnian leaders to intensify their efforts towards introducing and implementing the necessary reforms. In this context, the European Commission will be presenting a feasibility study on the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the near future.

Mr. President,

The European Union is also involved in security through its European Union Police Mission. The role played by the EUPM and European Union Special Representative Lord Ashdown to coordinate the international community's efforts in the fight against organized crime and illegal trafficking remains crucial.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• EU Police Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (20/2/2002)