Dodik announces boycott of EU Enlargement Commissioner, issues threats against Schmidt

Speaking on the RTRS Morning Program, Dodik said Kos could only address a “crippled House of Representatives of BiH” because SNSD lawmakers and their coalition partners would not attend and stressed that she could not speak before the House of Peoples, as SNSD member Nikola Spiric chairs it.

“Tomorrow, some Marta Kos is coming, who got a commissioner post for European integration and enlargement, and she is focused exclusively on Ukraine. Imagine, she has been in this role for a year already and has not come to BiH. And now she is some big leader who comes here and demands that the entire Parliament of BiH to be organised so she can speak, say what she wants, and then turn and leave. That she will have to do the same before some other forum, but not the Parliament in its full capacity. She can only speak in the House of Representatives, and even then in a crippled composition, because SNSD and our coalition partners will not be there,” Dodik said.

He called on opposition parties SDS and PDP to join the boycott, arguing it was a matter of defending RS, not him personally. He added that while opposition policies had failed, his bloc’s policies were delivering results. Dodik pointed to infrastructure projects, such as highway construction from Bijeljina to Brcko, despite what he described as a “silent boycott” from the EU over the past three years.

Dodik, who is on multiple sanctions lists in Europe and the US, also launched offensive remarks and threats against High Representative Christian Schmidt, whose decisions he has refused to recognise and for which he has been convicted in the BiH Court.

“We won't stop dealing with him when he leaves his post. Let that stinker try to impose something else; it won’t pass, and he won’t manage because he can’t even come to Republika Srpska, specifically Banja Luka; he would be expelled immediately. We will deal with him even after he leaves. He will go, but his legacy must be eradicated. Schmidt cannot do anything, he is a slimeball who came here and wants, like some of his fascist ancestors, to deal with us. He will not succeed; we will survive him. I challenge you, come here to Banja Luka if you dare, you would be thrown out like a sack,” Dodik threatened.

Dodik’s escalating obstructions have grown more pronounced since his conviction and loss of mandate. Recently, Slovenia imposed sanctions on him, and SNSD ministers in the BiH Council of Ministers twice blocked the adoption of the reform agenda. If the agenda is not agreed upon by the end of September, BiH stands to lose 10% of the EU Growth Plan funds.

Commissioner Kos arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina Sunday for a visit lasting until September 24. Her schedule includes meetings with members of the BiH Presidency, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Kristo, and Central Election Commission President Irena Hadziabdic.

She will also visit Brus to tour an EU-funded playground and clinic with Mayor Bojo Gasanovic, and meet with local hiking associations and youth. Kos is set to attend the signing of a contract for the construction of the new Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art in Sarajevo, financed through EU4Culture.

On September 23, Kos will open the conference “Critical Voices Under Pressure” at Europe House in Sarajevo and take part in a youth and sports event organised by the BiH Olympic Committee in Visoko, alongside athlete Amel Tuka.

Her visit concludes on September 24, when she is scheduled to address the BiH Parliament.