The situation in which Bosnia and Herzegovina finds itself today requires an equal approach of Europeans towards our country, considering that we are going through the most severe political crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. That is why the atmosphere in the country is unequivocally reminiscent of the beginning of the 1990s.
This is why the Members of the European Parliament came to hear the people - not only the officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina or representatives of the civil society, but also the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, those who fear the most.
MEPs visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
For sustainable peace and prosperity, we must act as soon as possible
A discussion titled "Wake up EUrope” and subtitled "Democracy or Ethnocracy" was held in the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Sarajevo offices of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The speakers were the guests of Sarajevo - MEPs Tineka Strik and Dietmar Köster, with the participation of Jakob Finci, President of the Jewish Community and citizen Azra Zornić. Both BiH participants won their cases against Bosnia and Herzegovina before the European Court of Human Rights for discrimination in the conduct of electoral processes. The audience, both in the Museum itself and online, included the representatives of the civil sector and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The title of the discussion was directly inspired by the exhibition in the History Museum with the same title, which presents documents on European solidarity with Bosnia and Herzegovina during the aggression and during the siege of Sarajevo. This exhibition not only shows humanitarian aid but it also documents the demonstrations, meetings and campaigns of the European citizens who put pressure on their own governments to change their policy towards BiH.
The situation in which Bosnia and Herzegovina finds itself today requires an equal approach of Europeans towards our country, considering that we are going through the most severe political crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. That is why the atmosphere in the country is unequivocally reminiscent of the beginning of the 1990s.
This is why the Members of the European Parliament came to hear the people - not only the officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina or representatives of the civil society, but also the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, those who fear the most.
During their visit to Sarajevo, they spoke about the current political crisis, the blockade of state institutions, the reform of the Election Law and the need to amend the Constitution, while being aware of the risk of reducing the state Drug Agency to the entity level, as Milorad Dodik did in Republika Srpska, along with his constant threats including the establishment of a new army, the introduction of a separate tax system and the separation of the prosecution, which they see as a step back and a contribution to ethnic tensions.
The MEPs stressed that the European Union and the UN should be clearer in their message indicating that something like that is unacceptable, noting that the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina must not be called into question.
Responsibility in conflict prevention
Even before arriving to Bosnia and Herzegovina, MEP Tineke Strik, along with other MEPs, sent a letter to the EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi requesting action against Milorad Dodik.
MEP Strik spoke about her own vivid memories of the beginning of the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also of the Dutch perspective, which includes the presence of the Dutch battalion in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Srebrenica, which further obliges the country to take responsibility for preventing any future conflicts.
"For the sake of sustainable peace and prosperity, we must act as soon as possible," Strick said, adding that during the meeting with the people from Sarajevo, she realized that they were very worried and afraid that it might be too late to act.
"At least now something must be done to stop Dodik, instead of pleasing or rewarding him. He simply has to see that what he is doing is unacceptable.
It is very important that we give a strong signal to Borrell, the European Commission and the USA, who need to say that you must unite, that this kind of behaviour will not be rewarded. And they will be sanctioned,” said Tineke Strik, who is aware that the people in the European Commission will not be unanimous in deciding on sanctions, but that it is very important for national parliaments to put pressure on national governments because there is a possibility for individual member states to act be and because it is important to show the individual responsibility of the EU members states for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for not allowing going back to the past.
Pressures of the EU policy on the RS decisions
Dietmar Köster of the German Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats had earlier urged the EU member states to finally grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his call, Köster strongly emphasized the need for progress in a number of segments, but he also noted the progress that the country has made.
Candidate status of BiH would greatly influence the dynamics of democratic processes and the elimination of discrimination in various areas. He agreed with his colleague Strike about the necessity of sanctions and concerns about unity in case of their introduction.
"With candidate status, Bosnia and Herzegovina would probably have more intensive negotiations, so much more could be achieved in terms of preserving democratic, fundamental human rights in BiH. It is clear to me that BiH is now facing a deep political crisis and that this raises concerns.
It is clear to me that we have a responsibility in terms of the deep political crisis we are facing in BiH caused by Dodik and the Republika Srpska he represents. "We in the European Parliament must work to put pressure on the Republika Srpska and Dodik to change this policy," Köster said.
The discussion on democracy or ethnocracy was also an opportunity to remind that Jakob Finci, together with Dervo Sejdić, has been waiting for 12 years for the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which established that the BiH Constitution discriminates against its ethnic minorities, not allowing them equal participation in democratic elections.
From ethnocracy to European values
The same Court also ruled in favour of Azra Zornić in 2014. She sued the state because she was not allowed to run for the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and the Presidency of BiH because she did not identify herself with any of the constituent peoples in BiH.
About 400 thousand citizens are unable to participate equally in the electoral processes due to their ethnicity or the territory they live in.
Azra Zornić believes that there are many more people who also do not feel as constitutive but do not talk about it out of fear.
"We are more than 400 thousand, but many do not have the courage to declare themselves as citizens for existential reasons, but are instead forced to opt for ethnic groups to prevent losing their jobs, status, etc." In that way they are forced to opt for one constitutive people. This ethnocracy goes so far that the children in the first grade of primary school are expected to decide on the religious classes they will attend,” said Azra Zornić, who, like Jakob Finci, argued that half-hearted electoral reforms are not the solution and that it would be better to wait rather than attempt now with incomplete implementations.
"We are fighting for the same thing, we are fighting for the democratic future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but while Europe expects us, the citizens of BiH, to take a step in the right direction, we expect Europe's leadership and help; we cannot do it on our own without the strong support of the European Union, the European Parliament and, of course, their partner the United States of America,” said Jakob Finci, President of the Jewish Community and, alongside Dervo Sejdić, the longest-serving fighter against ethnocracy and discrimination against non-constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Apart from the readiness of the MEPs to continue their intensive advocacy for Bosnia and Herzegovina without divisions and a country tailored to all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, it was encouraging to hear their impressions of the meetings with the citizens whose thoughts are far beyond divisions and the dominant rhetoric of politicians which makes us live in fear even 26 years after reaching peace.
During their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the MEPs concluded that the civil society representatives should play a much greater role in BiH society.
