prijava
SARAJEVO, July 16 (FENA) - Transparency International in BiH assessed that the absence of real intention of the BiH authorities to substantially improve the legal framework in key areas confirms the fact that the procedure for the adoption of any of these laws has not been completed more than two years after the publication of the EC Opinion.
They remind that the key laws for strengthening the rule of law, listed as priority conditions in the Opinion of the European Union for acquiring BiH candidate status for EU membership - Election Law, Law on Public Procurement, Law on Conflict of Interest, Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, and The Law on Protection of Whistleblowers of FBiH has been in the procedure for a long time.
“Instead of harmonizing the legal framework in these areas with international standards and opinions of relevant bodies (Venice Commission, ODIHR), the authorities' attention is focused on efforts to circumvent the essence of international standards and good practices, by satisfying mere form and fighting for narrow party interests,” stated TIBiH.
They add that manipulation of procedures, obstructions, mutual accusations and blackmail of key political actors, in addition to causing unnecessary delays, undermine credibility and trust in the process itself.
“The work of the Parliamentary Assembly is practically blocked, and the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice of BiH are in the function of obstructing the process. The painful atmosphere in which the Interdepartmental Working Group in charge of changing the election legislation works is additionally burdened by the fact that the CEC of BiH is not included in its work, as a key institution for conducting elections, which undoubtedly represents a serious but deliberate omission,” TIBiH points out.
TI BiH therefore urges civil society, the international community and opposition political parties to use all available means to put additional pressure on the ruling coalition to unblock the work of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and ensure the credibility of the key EU legislative process.
(FENA) A. B.
