Members of the European Parliament, Delara Burkhardt and Dietmar Koster, called for the introduction of EU sanctions against BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, arguing that he is the main person responsible for the major political crisis in Bosnia.
Observers have been warning of an escalation of the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina for months, said a statement from the office of Burkhart, who is the first Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the EP.
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“The tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are enormous. The country is undoubtedly in the deepest political crisis since the Dayton peace agreement. The parties with a nationalist-ethnic approach are all contributing to this,” said SPD MEP Koster, who is the foreign policy spokesman and shadow rapporteur for BiH.
He argued that the Serb nationalist forces around Milorad Dodik are “primarily responsible” for the situation.
“With his withdrawal from the state-wide, democratically legitimized institutions, he is promoting the concerns of the citizens that the state institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina will be dissolved and the entire republic will be destabilized as a result,” Koster said.
The MEP noted that Dodik's “sharp rhetoric” at the unconstitutional celebration of the Day of Republika Srpska on January 9. “incited his supporters,” which led to nationalist and Islamophobic attacks in the country.
“The situation remains extremely worrying. Citizens are increasingly losing confidence in the European institutions. This shows how urgent it is to put BiH higher on the European Union's agenda. The EU should increase pressure on Dodik to lift the blockade at the BiH state level. Furthermore, the conditions for democratic, fair and free elections in the second half of the year must be created. Electoral law reform must follow the principle that all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, are guaranteed all democratic rights. Short-term concessions to Dodik's rhetorical escalations are not effective,” he said.
Burkardt stressed that “it is now of utmost importance that we strengthen the direct link to civil society and to the courageous actors who have a will as well as ideas for a sustainable and just future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“The escalation of ethno-nationalism has currently pushed the country into its worst political crisis in 26 years. We condemn the efforts of actors in Republika Srpska – led by Milorad Dodik – to divide the country and establish a “Greater Serbia,” she said.
“The people on the ground are rightly hoping for EU support in this tense situation. The response of the European Commission, however, is limited to conspicuous silence. This is worrying and only strengthens the nationalist actors. Europe must show solidarity with its democratic partners in BiH by imposing precise sanctions on the actors around Milorad Dodik, by strengthening the office of the High Representative for BiH and by supporting those who want to improve the country – and not those who create differences!” Burkhardt stressed.
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