The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted on Tuesday the report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming the support for the country's Euro-Atlantic orientation and denouncing the obstruction of state institutions by the Bosnian Serb leadership.

The report was passed with 44 votes in favour, eight against and five abstained from the voting.

The MEPs stressed the importance of holding general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022 as scheduled, as well as implementing the results.

“Calling for the elimination of all forms of inequality, discrimination and bias in the electoral process, MEPs regret the lack of political will in the negotiations on constitutional and electoral reforms, and the failure to implement them ahead of this year’s elections,” according to a press release.

In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, MEPs also called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the EU sanctions the country has aligned with and warn of Russia’s continuing interest in destabilising Bosnia and Herzegovina.

MEP Paulo Rangel, the standing rapporteur on Bosnia and Herzegovina, assessed the report adoption as “particularly relevant news in the context of war in Europe.”

The @EP_ForeignAff Committee today adopted the report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which I am the standing rapporteur, with +44, -8 and 5 abstentions. Particularly relevant news in the context of war in Europe. 1/3

#BiH @EPPGroup @Europarl_EN pic.twitter.com/NHMjAKdpTa

— Paulo Rangel (@PauloRangel_pt) June 14, 2022

He said that the country was facing two major challenges that pull it into an institutional deadlock; “the secessionist acts and rhetoric of the Republika Srpska leadership and the impasse in negotiations on electoral law, which must respect European and constitutional jurisprudence.”

“These blockages prevent the country from focusing on the key reforms required by the 14 priorities set by the EU Commission. There is a lot of work to be done. We support and believe in the European future of BiH, which will bring peace and prosperity to all its citizens,” said Rangel.

The reports will now be submitted to a vote in the European Parliament as a whole at the plenary session in July.