BLOCKADE No reform plan for implementing the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans

(Patria) - The Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, scheduled a session of the working group for the preparation of the reform plan for the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for today. However, the session was not held, which is why Krišto expressed her dissatisfaction.

The session was scheduled to be held online with the aim of meeting deadlines and avoiding further delays in the process of submitting responses to the European Commission on the proposed indicative reforms.

In accordance with the rules of procedure, a quorum consists of a simple majority of all members of the Working Group, with the obligation of attendance by representatives of all levels of government responsible for the preparation of the Reform Plan for the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which was not the case at the second session.

Representatives from the Republika Srpska did not attend the session.

Therefore, Krišto pointed out that it is not good to have delays in the process of undertaken obligations, especially when it comes to submitting key reforms in a decisive period when the European Commission urgently needs and expects the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina on indicative reforms.

She emphasized that this is necessary in order to continue the consultative process on reforms that are possibly unacceptable or unclear.

She stated that without a statement on the reforms, we cannot proceed with the preparation of the Reform Plan for those reforms that are undisputed.

Krišto pointed out that "according to the plan that the European Commission has communicated to us on several occasions, the deadline for our response to the proposal of indicative reforms was January 22, 2024. Given that we are already significantly delayed, there is no additional room for postponement, especially at this stage of the process".

We would like to remind you that the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH is obliged to inform the European Commission about the dynamics of the Working Group's sessions on behalf of BiH.

Therefore, Krišto expressed regret over the lack of a quorum for holding the second session of the Working Group for the preparation of the Reform Plan for the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.