The Bosniak member of BiH’s tripartite Presidency, Denis Becirovic, wants to establish a state-level gas regulator but his Bosnian Serb colleague in the institution, Zeljka Cvijanovic, announced she will not support the initiative.

Becirovic submitted his proposal for the drafting and adoption of a law on gas which should be on the agenda of the upcoming session of the Presidency. According to his office, the central idea of the proposal is the abolition of “unconstitutional” entity regulators and the establishment of a state regulator for the field of natural gas with adequate powers and instruments for their implementation.

Becirovic argued the proposal is based on the provisions of the BiH Constitution and obligations towards the EU and the Energy Community with the aim of establishing clear rules in the natural gas sector and market development and competition in accordance with the current EU energy packages. It was submitted with the aim of solving the issue of diversification of sources and better supply of natural gas, with better prices and other more favourable conditions for all citizens and would represent an important step in the resolution of open proceedings against Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Energy Community.

Cvijanovic opposes the idea, arguing that the issue of energy is under the competencies of BiH’s two semi-autonomous entities.

“The Ministry of Energy, i.e. the Government of Republika Srpska, as well as the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, decide on these issues,” Cvijanovic told the Srna news agency.

The President of the RS entity and leader of the party Cvijanovic is a member of, Milorad Dodik, stressed that “no regulator for gas will be formed at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina” and that he will not allow the transfer of competencies from the entity level to the state level.

He argued that Becirovic “knows that the issue of the gas regulator is not within the jurisdiction of the BiH Presidency, but he is trying to re-impose it as a topic”.