Čović on the South Interconnection Law: I agreed on everything with Nikšić, and then they outvoted us at the FBiH Government session

(Patria) - Sessions of the Presidency of HNS and HDZ of Bosnia and Herzegovina were held in Mostar. President Dragan Čović said that at both sessions, they analyzed what has been done, what needs to be done, and the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čović is optimistic, but also points out that a lot of work awaits them regarding BiH's path to the EU, as well as strengthening partnerships at the entity and BiH level already in January.

“I believe that in the next 10 days we will have family peace, and already at the beginning of the first month, we will have to be visibly engaged on topics such as the European path and strengthening our partnerships at the entity and BiH level in order to function, given that we did not adopt budgets this time either,” said Čović.

He emphasized that he was sure that the Law on Border Control and the Law on Personal Data Protection would be adopted in all bodies in the 10th or 12th month, but it did not happen. The laws were adopted only in the Council of Ministers. However, Čović optimistically still believes that this is possible by the end of this year, 2024, even though “chairs are being pulled out from under us”.

“There is still a possibility that the session of the House of Representatives of the PSBiH will be on December 31st. If the House of Representatives schedules it, the House of Peoples will also have it and pass these two laws. If that doesn't happen then, it will be only in mid-January considering the holidays. Unfortunately, we did not achieve what we should have, and could have. The desire was to finish it while the Hungarians were presiding over the EU – the Growth Plan and other activities, personnel ones. Two other laws remained that came very close – the Law on Courts and the Law on the HJPC, as far as our line minister is concerned, both laws came to the point of going into procedure. Details about the court seat remained, and regarding the HJPC, I think we agreed on our proposal and we need to see with partners. These two laws should go to the Council of Ministers in January, and then parliamentary procedure would follow. We planned the budget in parallel with this. We should have organized emergency sessions, but since this did not pass, we did not schedule them,” said Čović.

He stated that they have spoken several times with the EU Special Representative for BiH and that it is clear to him what needs to be done, but that there is always some small thing that gives an argument to the second or third party not to do it.

“It happened to us again, someone always tries to pull the rug out from under us, figuratively, when we start. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be in a position to receive positive reports in March and open the process,” said Čović.

Answering a question about the saga called the South Interconnection, Čović says that one should always seek compromise.

“I have had many conversations with all the necessary actors in the last seven days and unfortunately what happened, happened. I think it was an inappropriate way of democracy for BiH and all those who called me from accredited representatives in BiH from the EU think the same or similarly. We are looking for further solutions. My colleague Nikšić and I, with our associates, through the negotiation team, agreed on the law before the FBiH Government session, so that at the Government session tomorrow it would be said that it cannot be implemented. We insisted that it be put on the FBiH Government agenda, so that it is not said that we do not have it. We have an agreed law. Then they said they would have to outvote us. We will not regret it, some are calculating that we will block something – not at all, we are not politically naive to that extent. We will continue everything within the framework of the Constitution and laws. We want what we consider to be a technical, financial, political, and energy standard to be respected, not the whim of an individual. It is clear to me that the Bosniak partners have recognized their chance and are all as one in centralizing everything in FBiH, that will not be possible. You saw the initiative to centralize EPHB, HT Eronet and Post Office. It is good that this has also appeared so that the public sees what someone's intention was,” said Čović and reiterated his stance that he expects a new company to be formed, owned by the FBiH Government, with its headquarters in Mostar.

N1/Patria