Top international officials in BiH sent a letter to Council of Ministers Chairman Zoran Tegeltija and Deputy Speakers Vjekoslav Bevanda and Bisera Turkovic, warning that the international community retains the necessary instruments to support the Peace Agreement and protect general elections.

The letter states that the budget for 2021 and 2022 should have been adopted.

“In accordance with the Law on Financing of BiH Institutions, the BiH Council of Ministers, the BiH Presidency and the BiH Parliamentary Assembly should have completed all steps towards adopting the Budget for BiH Institutions and BiH international obligations for 2021 and 2022 by the end of 2021,” the letter said.
The lack of annual state budgets for 2021 and 2022, despite the recent adoption of the Global Fiscal Framework 2022-2024, is a consequence of the non-functioning of state-level institutions and the decision-making process, forcing BiH institutions to temporarily finance in the last 15 months, the officials said.

“It is particularly worrying that the situation is further exacerbated by the failure to meet the constitutional and legal obligations of the BiH authorities regarding the financing of expenditures necessary for the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutions…”, the letter said, adding:
“The organization of the 2022 General Elections serves as evidence. According to the General Framework Agreement for Peace, while respecting the right of citizens to democratically elect their representatives as enshrined in the Constitution, this is an obligation that must be respected.”
The ambassadors warned that the organization of general elections is the responsibility of the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC), while assisting the CEC in carrying out this task is the responsibility of BiH authorities.
“Ensuring the financing of elections, in particular, is the responsibility of the BiH Council of Ministers and the BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury. The funds must be provided within 15 days from the announcement of the elections by the CEC, ie by mid-May at the latest,” the letter warns.
We understand that the CEC will send a new request to the BiH Council of Ministers. We do not see any legal or financial barriers that could prevent the award of funds. Any attempt to further deny or delay the requested funding will be considered not only an act that undermines the rule of law and democracy, but also a violation of the obligation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

“In the event that this obligation is not met, when BiH clearly has the means at its disposal, we recall that the international community retains the necessary instruments to support the Peace Agreement and safeguard general elections,” said a letter signed by High Representative Christian Schmidt Head of EU Delegation to BiH Johan Sattler, and the ambassadors of Germany, Japan, Canada, France, Italy and the Netherlands.