The US Embassy in Sarajevo called out political parties whose representatives in Bosnia's House of Peoples asked for accelerated membership in the European Union but then refused to vote for the key EU reforms.

“The USA would welcome coordinated action by political parties to achieve the EU candidate status. Political parties that call for an accelerated membership path on the same day they vote down key EU reforms are not sincere and are not serious about improving the lives of the people they claim to represent,” the embassy said.

🇺🇸 would welcome coordinated action by pol. parties to achieve 🇪🇺 cand. status. Pol. parties that call for an accelerated mbrshp. path on the same day they vote down key 🇪🇺 reforms are not sincere, & are not serious about improving the lives of the people they claim to represent.

— US Embassy Sarajevo (@USEmbassySJJ) March 25, 2022

The statement comes a day after the House of People of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a decision to ask the European Union to grant BiH candidate status in an accelerated procedure.

But, the house members did not approve the Draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interests in BiH institutions, which is one of 14 priorities outlined in the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's membership application.

The HoP also did not support a proposal that would oblige the Council of Ministers of BiH to follow the EU policy regarding the measures against Russia due to the aggression on Ukraine.

The major Croat party, the HDZ BiH voted against because, as they said, the proposal came from an opposition delegate (SDP).

EU ambassador to BiH Johann Sattler earlier today expressed disappointment over the vote and rejection of crucial reforms needed for the candidate status.