Oslobođenje: The Council of Ministers of the European Union has at the yesterday’s meeting in Brussels welcomed the new strategy of the EU towards BiH, which has been prepared by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Politics and Security, Javier Solana, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, and which predicts strengthening of the role of the EU after closing the Office of the High Representative (OHR).
The ministers of foreign affairs of the EU have expressed a “deep concern” because of the repeated usage of “nationalistic rhetoric” and “adopting the unparalleled decisions of some officials who are bringing into question the joint competences and foundations of the state”, reports Fena.
The Council has invited the leaders to renew the efforts in order to ensure the reforms which would ensure the progress towards the path to the EU. In that context, the council has expressed “satisfaction because of the agreement reached between the three leading BiH parties” several days ago, and invited on fast concretization of these proposals and the BiH political forces to gather around this project.
Worsening the situation
The ministers have “positively accepted” the Rehn’ and Solana’s report. In that document it has been stated that the goal of the strategy is to “ensure the stability in BiH and continue the progress regarding the key reforms”.
Rehn and Solana are pointing out that BiH has “unique challenges”, and a “strong international engagement, including the active usage of all mechanisms of the EU so the country can continue the way towards the Union”, is necessary.
The essence of the proposal goes towards the transition from the Office of the High Representative to the stronger local coordination, with strengthened support of the EU. The European officials are stating in the document that signing the SAA of BiH with the EU was a good step forward, but that “unfortunately has not stopped the worsening of the political situation in BiH in last months”.
“BiH must show more political responsibility and stronger coordination of the reform process in order to progress”. Leaders of BiH must transfuse their words of their preferred membership in the EU in acts and real results”, Solana and Rehn are pointing out.
The goal of the International Community and the EU is that BiH becomes stable, peaceful and multi-ethnic state, which decisively goes towards the EU membership. The six clauses of the strategy have been proposed, from which the first one is strengthened engagement of the EU in BiH.
“The European integrations represent the area in which all the leaders of BiH are agreeing on. That gives a unique impact and responsibility to the EU”, has been stated in the text.
Second clause is related to strengthened presence of the EU. “The mandate and the Office of the Special Representative of the EU would need to be strengthened in order to supervise the situation in the filed and the needs of transition”, has been stated and added that the EU would need to be ready for that goal by mid 2009.
Third clause is related to the resolution of the Security Council of the UN.
“It will be necessary in order to end the work of the OHR and a mandate of the High Representative of the International Community, and to solve the questions of the authority which are coming out of the Dayton/Paris Agreement”, it has been said in document.
Constitutional reform
Fourth clause has been related to holding the strong engagement of the International Community in BiH, which “must be continued after the OHR as well”.
Fifth clause is related to the active and comprehensive usage of all available instruments of the EU”. The European Partnership and application of the SAA would need to be the leading paths of reforms”.
Sixth clause is related to the clear standpoint of the EU on the Constitutional evolution.
“The Constitutional reform is not a condition for closing the OHR, or for a further path to the EU. Nevertheless, the Constitutional frame must progress in order to ensure the effective state structures which will work on the EU Integrations, including the necessity to speak by one language”, has been stated in the document and pointed out that the EU can assist that process, but that it must be led by BiH itself.