European Parliament member, Predrag Fred Matic, strongly criticised the leaders of the ruling ethnic parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, Dragan Covic and Milorad Dodik, saying that they obstruct BiH’s path toward EU membership.

He argued that Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) leader Dodik, Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) leader Covic and Party of Democratic Action (SDA) leader Izetbegovic have been “working for themselves” instead of for the country throughout the past 25 years.

“I don't see them moving past the Dayton Agreement. They didn't even stop the war but the Dayton Agreement did,” he said, saying they should be removed from political life in order to help BiH.

“And everyone else who interferes from Zagreb, Belgrade or Ankara – stay away from that country,” said Matic.

He argued that the reason these three leaders are often elected in BiH is that they continuously produce fear.

“People have to understand that they live in the 21st century. There was covid, we have a war in Ukraine, and we are still living in the 1990s. We are fighting for some borders and nationalist states. BiH can be a good member of the EU, but how do you put that in people's heads?” he said.

Matic described himself as a great friend of BiH who wishes that the country joins the EU as soon as possible. He said that he would support BiH’s membership, but that he would primarily like to see the country become functional.

“I have nothing against these three I mentioned personally, but with them, just like Serbia with (Aleksandar) Vucic, you will never enter the EU,” he said.