European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed regret over the lack of agreement among coalition partners at the state level on whether the seat of the appellate division of the State Court should be in East Sarajevo or Banja Luka, suggesting the former as a more rational solution.

The EU Office recalled that the Key Priority 6 of the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's membership application states the need to “improve the functioning of the judiciary, including by adopting of a new Law on Courts.

“The EU understands that the debate on the seat was between East Sarajevo and Banja Luka. In line with the Venice Commission opinion on this issue, the EU notes that the proximity of key aspects such as prosecution services, detention facilities and penitentiary institutions, legal aid services should be taken into account in determining the seat. On this basis, the EU sees no rationale for political actors to insist on Banja Luka over East Sarajevo,” it said.

Bosnia's state coalition concludes another fruitless meeting

On the other hand, the EU Office welcomed the information that progress seems possible on the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Law as well as the opening of negotiations for a Frontex agreement.

The leaders of the state-level ruling coalition, Troika parties, Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) held another meeting in Sarajevo on Thursday, but failed to reach an agreement on Law on Courts of BiH.