Ambassadors in Banja Luka: We are deeply concerned about the proposed referendum

Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, together with the United States Ambassador Maureen Cormack, British Ambassador Edward Ferguson, French Ambassador Claire Bodonyi, German Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Adrian Pollmann, and a representative of the Italian Ambassador traveled to Banja Luka yesterday to highlight the shared concern regarding the proposed referendum on state-level judicial institutions.

We acknowledge and agree that there are significant problems with the judicial and prosecutorial system in BiH at all levels, including the state level. However, the Structured Dialogue on Justice has achieved some significant results in the prosecution of war crimes and in paving the way for an appellate court at the state level.

A new state strategy for the reform of the justice sector in BiH, which offers a framework for legal reforms, is in the process of being drafted and harmonized among all levels of government. We want to work together, in a spirit of partnership with the authorities in the RS and in other parts of the country, to strengthen the judiciary throughout BiH, guarantee its independence and impartiality, and improve its work and efficiency in order to restore public confidence in judicial institutions.

At the same time, state-level judicial institutions are of key importance for the sovereignty and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are deeply concerned that the proposed referendum could represent an unconstitutional attempt not to reform, but to undermine and weaken them, and would thus pose a direct threat to the sovereignty and security of the country as a whole. This cannot be tolerated.

The last thing Bosnia and Herzegovina needs is unnecessary confrontation that would weaken, rather than support, our partnership and the reforms we agree are necessary.

From the perspective of the European Union, the planned referendum would also seriously harm Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to EU accession by calling into question BiH's ability to adopt binding legal agreements that would be respected throughout the country. The European Union has tried to focus the attention of political leaders on the real social and economic problems that citizens of this country face daily. In addition to stabilizing the economy and creating new jobs, especially for young people, the reform program also includes measures to strengthen the rule of law and address the problem of corruption.

A referendum, without genuine legal value, on something that calls into question the constitutional principles of BiH, would be counterproductive to addressing these urgent issues and would mean wasting money that could be used to address the real economic and social needs of the citizens of Republika Srpska.

Issues related to the judicial system are real and important. Concerns in this regard are shared by both ordinary citizens and politicians. We look forward to constructive work with the RS authorities, and others, to resolve the mentioned problems and, therefore, call for responsibility, dialogue, and cooperation, the statement said.