Bosnia and Herzegovina was supposed to receive at least one billion euros for development projects through the European Union's Growth Plan, but so far, nothing has materialized because the authorities of Republika Srpska refuse to accept the package of 113 implementation measures, among other reasons, because they do not want BiH to have a single emergency telephone number.

Today, Prime Minister of RS Radovan Viskovic spoke about this matter, stating that they do not want a single call center for emergency calls to be established in Sarajevo, although it is common practice in all states.

BiH is the only country in Europe without a single number for emergency calls, as RS authorities persistently oppose it, insisting that each entity regulate it separately and claiming that otherwise, it would violate the constitutional structure of the state.

“Isn't our proposal logical to have two call centers, one in RS and the other in the Federation of BiH?” Viskovic asked.

The leaders of political parties forming the government at the state level in BiH met on Monday in Sarajevo, without results, to try to unblock the process of adopting reform laws demanded by the European Union, as well as adopting the budget for this year. All this is a prerequisite for the European Commission to allow the allocation of funds secured for the Western Balkan countries through the project called the Growth Plan.

The entire package is worth six billion euros, and these funds would be allocated through specific projects for which EU bodies give consent. It is estimated that BiH could receive at least one billion euros in non-repayable funds in this way.

These funds are intended to ensure stronger economic growth, strengthen the rule of law, make various institutions more functional, enhance the business climate, and preserve human resources in BiH. The reforms are also aimed at creating conditions for ensuring ‘green’ energy, digital transition, and better IT infrastructure, including improving cybersecurity.

At the Council of Ministers of BiH on April 30, agreement was reached on 110 implementation measures necessary for approving projects to be financed through the Growth Plan, while three measures remained unresolved due to blockages from Republika Srpska.

In addition to refusing to establish a single emergency call center in BiH, as confirmed by Viskovic, RS officials also reject the elimination of the possibility of entity veto on decisions regarding the allocation of aid from state funds and refuse to allow the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court of BiH, ultimately demanding its restructuring.

Authorities in BiH had hoped that Brussels would once again “turn a blind eye” and accept the package of implementation measures without the three contentious points, and RS Prime Minister reduced it to a calculation whereby they could receive 95 percent of the billion euros because they have met the European Commission's requirements to that extent.

“They informed us that they cannot proceed without these three unresolved measures and that this is a red line and a condition for the Growth Plan and EU assistance to BiH. That's why I said if that's the condition, further talks are unnecessary,” Viskovic concluded.