MEPs warn of dangerous games over Bosnia and Serbia

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) cannot join the European Union without an internal agreement, the international community is finding it increasingly difficult to reach a consensus, and Serbia continues to enjoy great tolerance in Brussels despite its democratic problems. These topics were discussed on the Croatian Radio show "U mreži Prvog" by MEPs Stjepo Bartulica (Dom i nacionalno okupljanje), Davor Ivo Stier (HDZ), Tonino Picula (SDP) and Gordan Bosanac (Možemo!).

The discussion was prompted by the conclusions of the EU-Western Balkans summit held in Montenegro, as well as the increasingly complex situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, disagreements over the election of a new High Representative, and Serbia's position on the European path.

Bartulica: The guarantee that Bosnia and Herzegovina is heading west is actually the Croats

Stjepo Bartulica warned that if Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to become a member of the European Union, it must show that it can function without strong international intervention.

“A country that wants to become a member of the European Union must function. It would be good if it could approach Europe on its own, if the three parties could reach an agreement without the broad powers of a foreign diplomat,” he said.

He pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina has numerous problems, but he also warned of problems within the European Union itself.

“Europe has more Europes, sometimes I get the impression, I’m on the streets of Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than in the capital of the European Union,” said Bartulica, recalling the recent riots in Brussels and other European cities.

He emphasized that Croatia has a special responsibility towards Croats in BiH.

“The guarantee that Bosnia and Herzegovina is moving towards the West is actually Croats. I see this as a crucial issue of both geopolitics, but also the strategic interest of Croatia itself,” he said.

He also commented on the Homeland Movement's proposal for a Croatian electoral unit in the Federation of BiH.

“What is most controversial is the way it was presented and the timing. Perhaps we should rely more on quiet, discreet diplomacy, and not always bring something to the public space,” said Bartulica.

Stier: From Dayton to Brussels, the key is the equality of the three peoples

Davor Ivo Stier assessed that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a European perspective, but that progress is blocked by the lack of political agreement among domestic actors.

He recalled that BiH has not yet met all the conditions for opening negotiations with the European Union.

“There is a lack of consensus and agreement among political actors, that is, among representatives of the constituent peoples in BiH,” said Stier.

Speaking about the role of the High Representative, he warned that the current model can no longer continue in the same way.

“It can no longer continue as it was before. Greater responsibility must be transferred to political actors in BiH,” he said.

He emphasized that preserving the equality of Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs is crucial for the stability of the country.

“In the transition from Dayton to Brussels, what is key to the stability of BiH must be preserved, which is that Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs must be equal,” he said.

Speaking about the position of Croats, he pointed out that changing the electoral law is one of the priorities set by the European Commission.

“Two nations that are numerically different, but equal in rights, must find a formula that will allow each nation to elect its representatives, and not for one nation to elect another,” said Stier.

Picula: Bosnia and Herzegovina also has a fourth constitutive community - an international community

Tonino Picula believes that the current crisis over the election of the high representative actually showed the deep divisions between the European Union and the United States of America.

“Today we are witnessing a conflict of interests precisely within that fourth constitutive community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is, between the European Union and the United States of America,” he said.

He assessed that BiH needs a new methodology for internal negotiations before serious progress towards membership.

“In recent years, only crises have been renewed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and no solutions have been offered that could receive support both inside and outside the country,” he warned.

He particularly emphasized the problem of emigration of the population.

“If emigration from Bosnia and Herzegovina continues like this, that country will be left without its three constituent peoples and the rest before 2050,” said Picula.

Speaking of Serbia, he assessed that President Aleksandar Vučić is successfully using his country's geopolitical position.

“Vučić is trying to focus Brussels' policy towards the Western Balkans as a policy that cannot be implemented without Serbia,” he said.

However, he warned that the European Union could react more seriously for the first time.

“The only language that Aleksandar Vučić understands is the language of withholding financial resources,” said Picula.

Bosanac: It was a return somewhere back to the nineties

Gordan Bosanac criticized the Homeland Movement's proposal for a Croatian electoral unit in BiH, assessing it as politically harmful.

“That narrative was a return somewhere back to the nineties and all the mistakes that Croatian policy made towards Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time,” he said.

He believes that changes in the international community's attitude towards BiH are not the result of political maturation, but of pressure.

“There was no maturation and maturity to take a step forward, but instead, there was a backsliding,” he asserted.

He welcomed new initiatives to accelerate the enlargement of the European Union, but also warned that reforms must be real.

“I am interested in seeing real changes in these countries, not some kind of smuggling or easing of the path,” he said.

Speaking about Serbia, he assessed that student and civic protests are a sign of profound social changes.

“Vučić has serious domestic political problems. There is a large mass civic and student protest taking place in Serbia by people who are aware that the course he is taking Serbia is wrong,” said Bosanac.

He added that he does not expect a sudden turnaround, but believes that the current protests could bring positive changes in Serbia in the long term.

Source: HRT