Eight MEPs representing the largest political groups in the European Parliament wrote to European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to prevent the disbursement of EU funds to Bosnia’s Republika Srpska (RS) entity until its leadership demonstrates a "serious change of course."

In the letter, MEPs Tineke Strik, Michael Gahler, Tonino Picula, Hilde Vautmans, Reinhard Butikofer, Paolo Rangel, Dietmar Kosteri Klemen Groselj express concern about the potential payment of 600 million euros of EU funds to the RS.

“As you are aware, €600 million of IPA III funding – including investments for road and rail connections on Corridor V – is currently frozen, due to the dangerous secessionist policies of entity President Milorad Dodik, that directly harm the sovereignty of the country and its pro-EU future,” the MEPs wrote, adding that this decision demonstrated “political leadership and courage” and is “fully in line with the Rule of Law and conditionality that we so much need to revive and enhance the enlargement processes of the Western Balkan countries.

They noted that Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi visited Bosnia and Herzegovina last week and met with, among others, RS entity President Milorad Dodik, “after which the latter claimed in media appearances that an agreement had been reached regarding the resumption of funding to the RS entity.”

“As the Commissioner did not rebuke the statements in the AFET Committee of the European Parliament when asked directly, please allow us to resort to you directly,” the letter said.

“We are extremely concerned about this potential resumption of EU funds since the secessionist laws and proposals have officially not been retracted. Moreover, the continued engagement of the RS entity leadership with Russia on the highest level, including expressing support for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and their illegal so-called “referenda” to annex Ukraine’s territory, prove that it is not time to change course and start resume funding for these projects in the RS,” they warned.

The MEPs stressed that given that Hungary is preventing the EU from introducing sanctions against Dodik and others they deem responsible for the current crisis in BiH, the disbursement of IPA III funding is “de facto the only political leverage that we have at this moment.”

“We, therefore, urge you to intervene and ensure that EU funding towards the RS remains suspended until its leadership demonstrates a serious change of course, proving its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and Rule of Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina and officially withdraws these secessionist laws,” the MEPs wrote.

According to Strik, the resumption of EU funds to the RS at this moment “would be a tremendous strategic mistake.”

“Mr Dodik and the entity leadership have not demonstrated any substantial change of course, continue to actively support the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the secessionist laws and proposals are factually not off the table. Due to the Hungarian veto over any potential sanctions, these funds are the only leverage that the EU currently has over the RS leadership. Taking into account the claims by Dodik in local media and the fact that Commissioner Varhelyi ignored the question when asked directly in the Foreign Affairs Committee, a strong coalition consisting of the Foreign Affairs coordinators and BiH spokespersons of all biggest political groups in the European Parliament turns to Commission President von der Leyen, urging her to intervene and prevent the disbursement of funds until a serious change has been demonstrated,” she said.