Separatist initiatives in Bosnia jeopardize path to EU, says Commissioner

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday to speed up the reforms needed to make progress in the EU accession process. She did so during a three-day visit that Bosnian Serbs are boycotting.

Bosnia received a historic invitation to start accession negotiations last year, but has since passed only a minimum of the necessary laws. The work of the institutions is being blocked by representatives of the Republika Srpska, led by separatist leader Milorad Dodik, who wants to secede from the federal republic and join Serbia.

The Slovenian commissioner referred to “unconstitutional and separatist initiatives” and called on political leaders to join forces and continue on the path to EU membership.

Brussels has allocated six billion euros for the Western Balkans, but the payments are tied to reforms. Bosnia has already lost 108 million and risks further losses if a reform program is not adopted by the end of September.

(reuters, sab)