MEPs Franz and Thomas in Sarajevo today

(Patria) - Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo Romeo Franz and MEP of the Greens/EFA group and member of this delegation Thomas Waitz are arriving in BiH and will hold a series of talks with BiH parliamentarians, members of the BiH Presidency and representatives of civil society over the weekend in order to de-escalate the political crisis in the country.

The MEPs arrive in Sarajevo today and will stay until Monday.

"The current secession attempts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the new dynamic of ethnic segregation are extremely worrying. Secessionist efforts in Republika Srpska are a clear violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. However, European diplomacy has avoided strong criticism or sanctions against the leadership of the Bosnian Serbs," the statement from the Greens/EFA group of MEPs reads.

"MEP Romeo Franz is convinced that the EU and its national governments must avoid at all costs the repetition of past events and the escalation of the situation into violent conflict in the region," it adds.

The main focus of the talks will be on how the EU can help de-escalate the current political crisis, and the MEPs of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament will also discuss "political reforms to strengthen the rule of law and improve environmental and social policy standards in the country."

"Our visit to Sarajevo comes at a time of worrying secessionist tendencies of Republika Srpska. The stability and peace in the region are threatened. With our visit, we want to show solidarity with the actors in Bosnian society who are currently defending the vision of an inclusive, democratic and multi-ethnic country. Large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina want stability and a future in the EU. We must defend their democratic demands by all necessary means," stated these two MEPs.