Dnevni avaz: The European Commission Delegation in BiH has yesterday expressed regrets because of the adoption of the Law on protection of domestic production of BiH in the Parliament of our country, by stating that it is a "serious question, since the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) is a way for achieving the candidate status for membership in the EU".

The EC is also worried because of the consequences, which will be felt by ordinary people. In case it gets applied, this law will cause an increase of prices of basic groceries in grocery stores and it will directly influence BiH citizens – has been stated in the announcement of the EC Delegation, which has invited BiH to consultations with neighbors and other partners of the CEFTA, in order to "avoid a damaging and unnecessary trading problem".

Dinkić: Protective law

The chairman of the Government of Serbia and Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mlađan Dinkić has said yesterday that BiH has adopted "protective and a law opposed to CEFTA", reports Beta. He has announced that there are some upcoming consultations in the Government of Serbia. He has also pointed out that BiH will long-lastingly "be damaged because of this" and has expressed belief that the Parliament of BiH will re-examine its decision.

The Ambassador of Croatia in BiH, Tonči Staničić has yesterday for "Dnevni avaz" said that the adopted Law on protection of domestic production will damage not only economic, but also the total relations of two countries.

– The Government of the Republic of Croatia has not decided yet. Therefore, I cannot say anything concrete, expect for that fact that the measures we will undertake will be very serious. They will not only be the trading ones. For BiH, however, it is more important what the CEFTA and the EU will do. Their sanctions will be long-lastingly bad for BiH – has been said by Staničić.

By commenting the announcement of the chairman of the House of Peoples, Ilija Filipović that if the High Representative in BiH, Valentin Inzko does not put this law out of inuring, will request for a grade of constitutional validity of that act, the Croatian Ambassador has said that it is already possible to do that.

– This law will put BiH back on its path towards the EU. Its adoption is at the beginning a very bad move, which will bring to the negative consequences in economic sense – Staničić has concluded.

The Serbian Ambassador in BiH, Grujica Spasović has criticized the adopted law as well. Also, it is expected that the Government of Serbia will bring the decision on contra-measures towards BiH. According to Spasović, this is not only bilateral, but also much broader problem.

OHR without comments

Yesterday, the Office of the High Representative did not want to comment on the adopting of this law. – This is not a question for the OHR, but of the EC, the Secretariat of CEFTA, and institutions of BiH – has been said for Fena by spokesperson of the OHR, Oleg Milišić.

– Adoption of this law not only that jeopardizes the CEFTA, but also our further integrations towards the EU. We lose our credibility on such things. I am sure that this is not a right way to protect domestic production. The CEFTA is the idea, which has come from the EU, so it is not good to violate it – Spasović has pointed out.  

The Croatian Ministry of External Affairs and European Integrations has yesterday sent a protest note to the Embassy of BiH in Zagreb regarding the adoption of the Law on protection of domestic production in the Parliament of BiH, has been informed by this ministry.

– This law is directly directed against the free trade with Croatia in a frame of the CEFTA. Such behavior is not is a spirit of a good neighboring cooperation, which both countries are fighting for, and it will leave some consequences on the total relations of two countries – has been said in the announcement.