Corruption and the absence of the rule of law are the key issues facing Western Balkan countries, according to Srdjan Blagovcanin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Transparency International BiH.

In an interview with Fena, Blagovcanin highlighted these concerns while participating in the Southeast Europe Economic Forum, held at the U.S. Congress and organized by the Transatlantic Leadership Network and the European Center of the Atlantic Council in Washington.

Blagovcanin emphasized that robust economic development cannot be expected amid systemic corruption, which continues to anchor these countries to the bottom of all developmental indicators.

“The consequences of pervasive political corruption in the region directly contribute to the increasing political instability both within and among these countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a prime example. Moreover, corruption significantly exacerbates the democratic deficit in the region, with Bosnia and Herzegovina unfortunately leading in this regard. This is particularly evident in the introduction of openly repressive legal solutions in the Republic of Srpska, which restrict freedom of speech, thought, and association, effectively creating a black hole in the Western Balkans devoid of fundamental human rights and freedoms,” Blagovcanin warned.

He stressed that reforming the judiciary should be a priority in strengthening the rule of law.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina, viewed as a whole, is essentially a black hole in this regard. The problem of almost total control of the judiciary by political parties and organized crime cannot be solved by merely feigning judicial reform, which has been the approach for too long. The solution for a thoroughly devastated judiciary lies in a radical break from current practices, primarily through a vetting process—systematic checks of all judicial office holders regarding their assets, connections to organized crime, and overall performance in their roles,” Blagovcanin stated.

Finally, he stressed the importance of prioritizing the fight against corruption and strengthening the rule of law, as well as ensuring continuous and stronger support from the United States and the European Union for reforms in the Western Balkans.

“The progress achieved so far in strengthening the rule of law has largely resulted from the support of partners from the U.S. and the EU,” Blagovcanin concluded.