Bosnia and Herzegovina has the capacity for great things, but it is also a country tragically prone to stagnation and blockades

(Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has the capacity for great things, when there is will. It is also a country that is tragically prone to stagnation and blockades. The Growth Plan is a plan to move BiH forward, writes the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, in his column.

Soreca reminds at the beginning of the text that the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, promised in her address to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH in September that she would climb Maglić when Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes a member.

"Membership remains an ambitious goal, with numerous potential obstacles. For example, just this week, an opportunity was missed for the Council of Ministers to fulfill the steps that would lead to progress towards holding the first intergovernmental conference with the EU.

But this week we are also witnessing a major step forward. Namely, the European Commission has approved the Reform Agenda adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers on September 30, unlocking potential investments worth up to EUR 976.6 million in exchange for reforms within the EU's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans," writes Soreca.

He adds that the approved Reform Agenda is now publicly available on the European Commission's website.

"I encourage all interested parties to review it, to become more familiar with the process and the list of reforms. Admittedly, it is a complex and technical document of 161 pages.

However, it essentially boils down to a simple proposal to the country's authorities - make changes for the benefit of the citizens, and we will provide financial support for their implementation," states Soreca.

He explains that the Reform Agenda is based on four key areas, each of which individually promises transformation for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The first is the green and digital transition. If you hope for faster and more secure broadband internet in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have good news. If the competent authorities fulfill the steps to enable the introduction of 5G technology and secure broadband internet, the EU will provide financial support to accelerate the process.

We will also provide support for the digitalization of public services, which will reduce waiting times in queues at administrative bodies and ensure easier access to information and services.

Reforms in the area of decarbonization, which everyone knows is necessary to prevent catastrophic global warming, will be accompanied, among other things, by support for a just transition in coal regions," emphasizes Soreca.

The second policy area is the development of the private sector and the business environment, including systems for financial support for innovative startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, simplification of processes to enable a favorable business environment, and the implementation of intelligent transport systems.

The third policy area focuses on education, the labor market, and the social protection system. EU reforms and financial support aim to increase preschool enrollment, improve the quality of primary, secondary, and higher education by aligning curricula with the skills needed for future success, and enhance the link between vocational education and the private sector.

"We will support efforts to increase the number of schools with internet access. The Reform Agenda also aims to increase access to quality jobs across the country, including through the Youth Guarantee, as an element of commitment to combating youth unemployment and ensuring a smoother transition from education to the labor market," states Soreca.

The fourth area covers what we call 'fundamental issues', namely the rule of law, the functioning of the judiciary and democratic institutions, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and fundamental rights. These are some of the most important reforms on Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path, and they will have some of the most lasting consequences.

"I have listed numerous potential benefits of the Reform Agenda, but cynics might now ask: 'What's the catch?'. Well, there is a significant risk that insufficient political will will prevent the implementation of reform steps.

Each completed reform step is accompanied by a corresponding amount of investment. Without reform steps, BiH will not receive the EUR 976.6 million allocated under the Growth Plan," pointed out Soreca.

He considered it important to remind that the Reform Agenda contains reforms that the domestic authorities have identified as important for the future of the entire country.

"We rely on the business community, civil society organizations, the academic community, and the general public to maintain a strong interest in these reforms and to hold their democratically elected representatives accountable to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.

With the first snow these days, we are reminded that more than four decades ago, within just a few years and with short deadlines, fantastic winter sports facilities were built on Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina, and Trebević, enabling one of the unforgettable Winter Olympic Games in 1984.

However, the winter on our doorstep brings cities in BiH some of the highest air pollution rates in Europe, as a reminder of the urgent need for decarbonization and reforms to improve the environment.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has the capacity for great things, when there is will. It is also a country that is tragically prone to stagnation and blockades. The Growth Plan is a plan to move BiH forward. To quote the lyrics of Bijelo Dugme, 'Let's go to the mountains!'", concluded Luigi Soreca in his column.