Borell and Varhelyi: Adopt budget and hold elections after Mostar agreement

(Patria) - Following the political agreement between SDA and HDZ BiH on elections in Mostar, with the engagement of the international community, a joint statement by EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi was issued.

"We welcome today's political agreement by leaders on the election law concerning Mostar, which will finally enable the residents of Mostar to exercise their right to vote in local elections after 12 years. We now expect the swift adoption of the related legal amendments in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the prescribed procedures, and we call on the ruling majority to ensure all necessary conditions for holding local elections throughout the country, which includes the adoption of the budget.

Holding local elections in Mostar is included in the 14 key priorities of the European Commission's Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for EU membership. Regarding the political agreement on further electoral reform, the EU reiterates the need to fully address the key priorities from the Opinion for Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance on its path to EU accession.

Issues concerning elections should be resolved in accordance with European standards, while taking into account the country-specific context. No legislative or political steps should be taken that would hinder the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Sejdić-Finci case and related judgments. Bosnia and Herzegovina also needs to implement the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to improve the democratic quality of electoral processes," the joint statement reads.