Initiative sent to NATO: Allow BiH active participation in the Membership Action Plan

The Center for Security Studies of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent on Thursday an Initiative to NATO Secretary General Mr. Stoltenberg and all ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council, aimed at easing conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the Membership Action Plan (MAP), despite the unresolved status of immovable military property. If NATO accepts this initiative, BiH could timely launch activities on defining and harmonizing the first Annual National Program of the MAP, whose implementation could begin in September this year, reports the Patria news agency.  

The reason for this initiative coincides with the European Union's new approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, by redistributing priorities, removed the obstacle to activities in the EU accession process. Namely, the previous precondition for any activities regarding EU accession was conditioned by the implementation of the European Court's ruling in the Sejdić – Finci case. The new EU approach does not absolve the authorities in BiH from implementing the mentioned ruling, but it relaxes activities on BiH's path to the European Union.

The CSS initiative proposes that the status of immovable property be resolved in parallel with other activities from the Annual National Program of BiH within the Membership Action Plan (MAP).

Over the past 4 years, by not resolving the issue of immovable military property, BiH has significantly stagnated on the path to joining the North Atlantic Alliance. A positive response from the competent NATO bodies to this initiative would be an incentive for BiH institutions, as well as society as a whole, to intensify activities leading to full membership in NATO.

Members of the BiH Presidency were also informed today about the content of the initiative.

The full text of the initiative can be found on our website: www.css.ba, states the announcement from the Center for Security Studies.