The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Thursday it was seriously concerned about the amendments to a criminal code which the House of Representatives of one of the country’s two semi-autonomous regions has passed as it will undermine the fight against corruption.

The lower house of the Parliament of the Bosniak-Croat entity, called the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), passed the amendments on Wednesday, changing how the corruption-related crime of Trading of Influence, better known as abuse of office, will be processed.

A statement issued by the head of the OSCE Mission in Sarajevo, Bruce Berton, said the organisation “believes that if the amendment is adopted it will likely have a direct impact on the outcome of ongoing proceedings against political figures who come from parties that hold political power in the FBiH Parliament.”

He was referring to trials and charges raised against high-ranking members of the ruling Party for Democratic Action (SDA), who have been accused of corruption and abuse of office.

“For those reasons, the decision does not strengthen the fight against corruption but undermines it instead,” the statement said.

All levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina “professed their commitment to the comprehensive and far-reaching fight against corruption,” and the Parliament should make decisions that reflect that commitment, the OSCE appealed.  

The amendments still have to be adopted by the upper house.