A group of 26 EU parliamentarians asked EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to propose to the EU Council an "unconditional extension" of the decision on restrictive measures, given the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They explicitly called for the introduction of restrictive measures against Milorad Dodik, Bosnian Serb leader and his SNSD leadership, regarding steps towards transfer of competencies from the state to entity level.

“Given the persistent and deep political crisis in the country, which has the potential to destabilise the security situation in entire Western Balkans, it is of crucial importance for the EU to have sufficient tools at its disposal to impose consequences for actors violating the Dayton Peace Agreement, sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of BiH,” the MEPs wrote in the letter, reminding that the Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/543 from March 2021 expires end of this month.

They stressed that non-extension of the existing sanctions framework at the midst of the current crisis would “evidently send an extremely wrong signal towards local interlocutors” and could have “severe negative consequences for the situation in BiH.”

“It might cause an environment of impunity, unintentionally incentivizing the RS leadership to further pursue their unconstitutional activities,” the MEPs wrote.

The parliamentarians reminded that the European External Action Service acknowledged in its statement on the 10th of February that “the vote by the (Bosnia Serb-majority entity) Republika Srpska National Assembly in favour of a law establishing a separate High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council in the RS constitutes an unacceptable violation of the constitutional and legal order of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“Given that Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/543 foresees that restrictive measures should be imposed against certain natural and legal persons whose activities undermine sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and international personality of BiH, we invite you to actively start making use of the sanction framework, notably by putting forward a proposal installing restrictive measures against the responsible persons for the law establishing the VSTV, including Milorad Dodik, the SNSD leadership and all members of the RSNA voting in favour of the aforementioned law,” they stressed, urging HR Borrell to convince the Council of the extension of the sanction framework.

Together with colleagues, I wrote a letter to @JosepBorrellF, to urge the EU Commission to extend the sanctions framework for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is set to expire this month. Non-extension would send an extremely wrong signal and might create a climate of impunity. pic.twitter.com/od2T0e39e4

— Tineke Strik (@Tineke_Strik) March 3, 2022