European Parliament's decision to dismiss all amendments to the report on Bosnia and Herzegovina filed by Croatian MEPs, referring to the constituent status of peoples in the country, was expectable, according to Bosnia Presidency member Zeljko Komsic. He said that the ethnic concept of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not acceptable for European Union.

“Moreover, there is a strict order to reject such principle. It used to be hard to even say it out in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You would immediately get attacked for that. Today, the European Parliament has clearly declared on that matter. I can say I am satisfied,” said Komsic, adding that Zagreb should acknowledge that the ethnic concept “they are forcing in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is not acceptable for EU.

The statement comes a day after the parliament's discussion on Bosnia's Progress Report, which made no mention of the rights of the country's constituent peoples, more precisely, three major ethnic groups – the Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs.

This sparked fury among the Croatian MEPs, who criticised such a decision.

“Some in the Parliament are trying to erase the constituent peoples out of the reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I warn you that this once resulted in a major tragedy,” MEP Zeljana Zovko said in response.

But, Presidency member Komsic expects the document to be adopted.

“It would be good if the MEPs stopped embarrassing themselves and do some more reading of the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's candidate status and other relevant documents,” he added.

Speaking before the parliament on Wednesday, European enlargement and neighbourhood commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said Bosnia and Herzegovina made some “significant steps” on its path towards EU since 2018 but that “most substantive issues remain pending,” mentioning among others the necessity to amend the electoral legislation and the Constitution of BiH.