INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP - NEW BRIEFING
Bosnia: Europe’s Time to Act
Sarajevo/Istanbul/Brussels, 11 January 2011: The European
Union (EU) should make 2011 the year when it finally takes the lead
international role in helping Bosnia on its journey from a war-ravaged
ward to a stable member state.
Bosnia: Europe’s Time to Act,*
the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, argues that
the EU is better placed to cajole Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats than the
Office of the High Representative (OHR), the pro-consular entity
established by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) after the 1995
Dayton Accords. Though the OHR retains few of its previous powers and
little capacity to be effective even in the case of a serious security
threat, the EU has been hesitant to act while it is still present. But
it is time for the member states to reinforce the EU “Delegation”
(embassy) in the country so it can get
on with the job only it can perform.
“Bosnia has outgrown the OHR. The EU will not ‘replace’ it,
because its goals and tools are different ones, more suited for dealing
with what is a sovereign, though troubled, state”, says Crisis Group’s
Balkans Project Director Marko Prelec. “The EU can help Bosnia implement
needed reforms, but not dictate policy, keep its government running
smoothly or guarantee stability. Bosnians will have to meet EU
membership criteria themselves”.
The international community has decided that it will not close
the OHR until Bosnia completes what it calls the five objectives and two
conditions (“five plus two”) imposed by the PIC in 2008. Bosnia has
finished three objectives and one condition, but two more – regulating
state and defence property – are stuck. Dividing state property among
different levels of government could take years, however, and, though
important, it has little to do with the country’s viability, its need
for international assistance or its relationship with the EU.
The EU should not wait to establish a reinforced Delegation, with
a new ambassador, that can provide a clear, single voice on Bosnia. The
Delegation should encourage Bosnia as it applies for EU membership,
which could happen later this year. Several years are likely to go by
before membership negotiations actually begin, but the candidacy process
can be expected to encourage further reform as it has done elsewhere in
Europe. As the EU Delegation grows, the OHR should take a back seat.
“EU foreign ministers should promptly give the EU Delegation in
Bosnia new powers, responsibilities and resources”, says Sabine Freizer,
Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director. “Failure to move decisively on
this when they meet on 31 January and to appoint soon a strong
ambassador, a post left vacant for six months, would damage EU
credibility to act just as its new European External Action Service is
trying to demonstrate that the Lisbon Treaty has made Brussels a more
effective international player”.
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*Read the full Crisis Group briefing on our website: www.crisisgroup.org
ICG Pristina +381 38 243 561
Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) +32 (0) 2 541 1635
Kimberly Abbott (Washington) +1 202 785 1602
To contact Crisis Group media please click here
*Read the full Crisis Group briefing on our website: www.crisisgroup.org
ICG Pristina +381 38 243 561
Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) +32 (0) 2 541 1635
Kimberly Abbott (Washington) +1 202 785 1602
To contact Crisis Group media please click here
