Will there be a message for the Trojka: Čović avoided Sattler today, will speak about the current political situation in Mostar tomorrow

(Patria) - Head of the EU Delegation Johann Sattler held meetings with the Collegia of both houses of the BiH PA today, but HDZ leader Dragan Čović, who is also a member of the Collegium of the House of Peoples of the BiH PA, did not attend the meeting. He was replaced by delegate Marina Pendeš.

The meeting followed the House of Peoples of the BiH PA rejecting the urgent procedure for adopting the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities at its last session with votes from SNSD, and Čović, at the proposal of Kemal Ademović, refused to immediately agree on the Collegium.

Head of the EU Delegation Sattler briefly commented on these meetings on X:

"We need more urgency when it comes to reform laws, especially ahead of the upcoming European Council in March," Sattler stated.

Dragan Čović's address to the public on the current political situation has been announced for tomorrow by HDZ BiH.

During the meeting between Sattler and the Collegium of the House of Peoples, discussions focused on the need for urgent action and the adoption of a number of reform laws that are in procedure, with the aim of Bosnia and Herzegovina receiving a positive decision from European institutions in March this year regarding the opening of negotiations for full membership in the EU.

Ambassador Sattler emphasized the importance of the role of both houses of the BiH PA, and stated that it is crucial to show leadership in the coming weeks and seize the opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens. In this regard, it was also warned about the possibility that after March this year, the situation and mood within EU institutions regarding the enlargement process might change, and that a new opportunity to open negotiations for EU membership would have to wait longer.

A particular focus was placed on the need to adopt the Bill on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities by mid-February so that Bosnia and Herzegovina does not end up on the MONEYVAL "grey list", which, as stated, would cause significant damage to the economy and financial sector.

At the same time, it was stated that it is realistically feasible to adopt several more reform laws in the BiH PA by the end of February, especially the draft laws on conflict of interest, on BiH courts, on border control, and on personal data protection. It was stated that EU officials will be available to resolve any contentious issues related
to these draft laws.

Regarding these laws, they have not yet been harmonized within the state coalition, which has burdened that agreement with Čović's demand for changes to the BiH Election Law to enable so-called legitimate representation, but not the BiH Constitution which would implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, and on the other hand, Dodik's demand for the reconstruction of the BiH Constitutional Court, which implies replacing three foreign judges with domestic ones or having them elected by the BiH Parliament.

However, messages from international officials, especially from the US, are a clear signal to the authorities to leave the BiH Constitutional Court aside, and that foreign judges will remain in their positions. Criticisms were also directed at Čović himself for blocking the Southern Interconnection project.

Both Dodik and Čović have in recent days asked the leaders of the Trojka to clearly state whether they will proceed with the implementation of the agreement from Laktaši. On the other hand, media close to HDZ published today that the agreement from Bakinci is dead, and Naša stranka, in its statement after the Presidency session, stated that negotiations with the EU should be opened first, and then the Election Law should be considered.

However, for Čović, the deadline for agreement is the end of February, so the question is what his further relationship with this coalition will be.

Both Dodik and Čović told the Trojka that there is a transcript from Bakinci and that the Trojka can recall what was said and what positions were advocated.