Bosnia is facing a “genuine state crisis due to ethno-nationalist attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace agreement and conflict overs upcoming elections in October 2022” and the European Union must immediately take action regarding the problem, a press release by representatives of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament said on Monday.

The statement came after EP member and Delegation Chair for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with Thomas Waitz, Member of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the European Green Party, spent three days in Sarajevo meeting with political representatives and civil society actors.

“The purpose was to listen to parliamentarians, elected representatives and civil society and to show solidarity with the actors in Bosnian society that right now defend the vision of an inclusive, democratic and multi-ethnic country,” the statement said.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a genuine state crisis, which puts the stability and peace of the whole region at risk. In this situation our priority must lie on ensuring security and protection of democratic rights,” Romeo Franz said.

He noted that, while this is primarily the responsibility of the national political institutions, “the EU has to become more active.”

“Appeasement politics towards self-proclaimed ethno-nationalist leaders has already failed in the last years and must urgently stop. On the contrary, I am convinced that we should clearly name and sanction those responsible for the crisis, first of all Milorad Dodik and his entourage,” he said, referring to the tripartite Bih Presidency member and leader of the ruling party in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska (RS) entity.

“We will have to lobby amongst EU governments to move towards the necessary qualified majority in the Council of the EU,” Franz added.

“We must not be fooled: the current political crisis is not a crisis caused by ethnic divisions. It is a crisis caused by ethno-nationalistic leaders that are diverting attention from the actual political challenges of the country that remain to be addressed effectively: fight against corruption, eradication of poverty, creation of good jobs, environmental protection and a more promising perspective for the youth of the country.”

“Debates about reforms of the constitution and the functioning of the state system must be carried out within the national institutions, with democratically elected representatives in a transparent process, and with the strong involvement of civil society and citizens. Therefore, I strongly condemn any threats to boycott or prevent elections. We must not allow that citizens are deprived from their democratic rights,” he concluded.