Key EU reforms blocked as BiH Council of Ministers session collapses

Ministers from the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party effectively thwarted the session by voting against the adoption of the agenda.

Among the 33 scheduled items, three stood out as crucial: the Draft Decision on the Establishment of the Office of the Chief Negotiator of BiH with the European Union, the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC), and the draft amendments to the Law on the Court of BiH. This legislative package represents Bosnia’s core obligations on its European journey and was seen as a vital test for progress in fulfilling the European Union's requirements.

Had these items been adopted by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, it would have marked a step forward in the overall process, sending them to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly for further deliberation and adoption by the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples.

However, the SNSD vote has effectively blocked this entire process.

This outcome was widely anticipated following recent statements by SNSD leaderMilorad Dodik, who angrily announced he would instruct Serb representatives in state institutions to block the passing and implementation of all decisions.

The stated reason for this blockade was the decision by BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez to prohibit the landing of a military aircraft from Hungary, carrying Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, a long-time friend of Dodik, at the Banja Luka airport. Dodik reacted strongly to the incident.

Given that the agenda was rejected, the ministers were unable to discuss any of the other scheduled items. It remains unknown if or when a new session of the BiH Council of Ministers will be convened to address these crucial EU reform laws.