Tineke Strik: EU should provide more active support to BiH

Speaking on the topic "From Dayton to Brussels: BiH's path towards the EU and the latest decisions of the OHR", Strik stated at the press conference via zoom that October 2 should have been a day to celebrate democracy, an important step and an incentive for further reforms in BiH. However, as she added, thanks to the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt, one step back towards ethnic divisions and nepotism was made.
 
“My colleagues from the European Parliament and I criticized the decisions of the High Representative because we need reforms that will be inclusive and we need to follow the path that will lead us to the principle of "one man, one vote", i.e. to complete democracy instead of returning to nationalist divisions,” Strik pointed out.
 
She stated that in light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the level of awareness in the European Union has now increased regarding the importance of the Western Balkans getting closer to the EU. Strik also said that greater engagement is underway and that the EU has determined that one of its priorities is to speed up the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU.
 
According to her, the European Union should take a stricter stance regarding the conditionality of further funding and the EU accession process. Strik added that the 14 priorities of the European Commission are known and that the EU should be clear that it is necessary to implement democratic reforms.
 
“It is in the interest of the EU that the Western Balkans, and thus Bosnia and Herzegovina, come closer to the EU, and the EU must take ownership of these processes and the initiative because, as we know, the decisions of High Representative Schmidt were initiated more by the USA and Croatia. In this sense, the EU should be brave to show the USA what the true democratic path means and alignment with EU standards and legislation,” added Strik.

(FENA) A. B.

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