European Forum mission and conference on EU integration in Bosnia

The worsening socio-economic (unemployment rate of 43%) and political situation, characterized by nationalist rhetoric and ethnic division, are worrying. Hoping for a better future, most citizens of BiH support the EU accession, but due to the inefficiency and incapability of the institutions the country is legging behind in the EU integration process. Furthermore, the badly prepared 'Butmir' talks are unlikely to bring any break-through in the political deadlock. Moreover, as argued by one of the speakers at the conference, Prof. Cenic, the enforced talks by the international community in the military base Butmir near Sarajevo show that the democratic institutions in the country are neglected and considered as incapable of making decisions and reforms. Whilst all politicians in the country strongly support EU integration of the country, they are unfortunately rarely acting to it. Local leaders and representatives of the international community are constantly pointing the finger at each other while at the same time the living standards of ordinary citizens and overall socio-economic situation are deteriorating.

Mission to Banja Luka
On 13 November a delegation of the European Forum, headed by Hannes Swoboda (vice-president of the Progressive Alliance of Social Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament) and Tanja Fajon (member of the European Parliament for the Progressive Alliance of Social Democrats (S&D), visited Banja Luka and held talks with Union of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), opposition (parties) and non-governmental organisations. Two contradicting pictures on the current situation in Republika Srpska (RS) were given.

On the one hand, the Prime Minister of RS and leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik argued that the political and economic situation in RS is stable and he denied the lack of democracy and freedom of the media. Furthermore, Dodik confirmed his commitment on EU integration and said, although he does not love BiH, he respects the territorial integrity of the country and denied any aspirations for succession of RS, claiming not to be an adventurer. Finally, the Prime Minister expressed his willingness to discuss constitutional reforms and proposed eight points for these reforms.

On the other hand, non-governmental organisations and opposition in RS gave a extremely depressive picture on the situation in RS and whole BiH as well. The poverty, unemployment and ethnic division have increased, whilst the government of RS is controlling all facets of the society. There is a strong lack of democracy and freedom of media and critical voices are strongly suppressed and sometimes physically attacked. In addition, the current political elite knows it will not bring the country into the EU, and therefore not get the credit for doing it, and has advantage by maintaining the status quo.

Besides these contradicting interpretations of the reality, a positive and welcomed message was delivered by Fajon who is leading and pushing the talks on visa liberalization for Western Balkans. On 13 November the European Parliament supported a motion according to which citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia will be able to travel visa-free to the EU from 19 December of this year. BiH, Albania and Kosovo were left behind and Fajon is working hard to make it possible for the citizens of BiH to travel visa-free from July 2010. According to the new MEP from Slovenia, 95% of the conditions are met. Still, work has to be done, for example the establishment of an anti-corruption organisation on the state level.

Conference in Sarajevo
On 14 November fifty representatives from social democratic parties from BiH, the region and the EU, as well as several experts on the topic (EU integration of BiH) and representatives of international organisations in BiH participated at the conference in Sarajevo.

It became clear that the social, economic and political situation in the country is worrying. Moreover, political leaders and the international community seem to have no clear-cut strategy to break the political dead-lock and lead BiH towards the EU. The main social democratic parties in the country Social Democratic Party of BiH (SDP BiH) and Union of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) are on a very bad foot and will not cooperate with each other. On the contrary, they are political enemies and their leaders personal enemies.

Although research has shown that citizens of BiH are mostly worried about unemployment and corruption it seems that the campaign for the upcoming general elections in BiH in autumn of 2010, like the local elections last year, will be dominated by ethnic and nationalist issues. It was agreed by all participants that the social democratic parties in BiH should focus on the problems people really care about: having a job, decent income and social security. Most participants at the conference and citizens of BiH (90% of the citizens is unsatisfied with the current leaders) do not believe the current government is able to tackle these challenges, which to a certain extent requires radical societal and political change. In order to achieve this change it is important to strengthen the civil society and capacities of politicians. The research also showed that citizens consider SDP and SNSD as most capable of solving their problems, which should be seen as a opportunity for the social democrats. 

The goal of the Office of High Representative (OHR) is to achieve a prosperous BiH fully integrated in the EU. During the conference, the SNSD reacted stating that the OHR is intentionally creating instability in BiH in order to stay in the country and safeguard their jobs at the HR office. However, according to James Lyon of the OHR, it is Dodik, the leader of the SNSD, who continues blocking progress in BiH. In addition, the EU was criticized for lacking a comprehensive strategy on BiH and being unable to speak with one voice. Among others, the renewed engagement of the US in the county is a prove of this.

A full and detailed report on the mission to Banja Luka and conference in Sarajevo will be published on our website on short notice.