While Krišto sees unprecedented progress, Sattler says 'roll up your sleeves and start with reforms'

(Patria) - Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, said after receiving the EC report on BiH that she is grateful for the recommendation to open negotiations with BiH. The report was handed to her by the Head of the EU Delegation in BiH Johann Sattler.

"This is a significant and important step forward. This report is substantive and will take us a lot of time to read it in detail and understand what awaits us in the coming period. It is based on what has been done by the Council of Ministers of BiH regarding the European and reform path, and compared to previous years, significant progress has been made in the rule of law, the functionality of institutions, the fight against corruption and crime, and building a better society," said Krišto.

Although a significant part of the report deals with insufficient reforms in the judiciary, and particularly criticizes the lack of progress in the fight against corruption, Krišto clearly read a different part of the report.

"At this moment, this is an incentive for better and faster work in the future. The EC has appreciated everything we have done, the EC has also considered BiH in the context of the entire geopolitical environment. This progress, which the EC has appreciated, is the result of good policies, agreements, and compromises," said Krišto.

She called for further reforms to be implemented, especially electoral reform.

Sattler tried to bring a breath of optimism by stating that the good news is that we are moving forward.

"As the President of the EC said, accession negotiations will take place when a sufficient degree of alignment with EU criteria is met. What does that actually mean? The President clarified that our doors are open, and now it is up to BiH to implement the necessary reforms and pass through the open doors. The EC will submit a report on opening negotiations no later than March 2024. This means that even before March, you can convince EU member states to open negotiations earlier," said Sattler.

He stated that the report is factually based.

"I am talking about the moves of RS that are going in the wrong direction. They call for constitutional judges to resign or the adoption of a law on non-application of Constitutional Court decisions. Such activities must stop, and I call on both entities to fill the Constitutional Court of BiH with their entity bodies. BiH can no longer afford to lag behind in reforms. Everything is clearly stated what the Council of Ministers of BiH, what the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH needs to do. There is a lot of work ahead of you, and it is time to roll up your sleeves. A lot needs to be done on the economic front as well, concerning the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans," said Sattler.

Sattler noted that the Berlin Process agreements must be finalized.

"The EU remains with BiH as your largest trading partner, investor, and aid provider," he said.