Initiative for Monitoring European Integration: Irresponsible behaviour of politicians causes direct harm to citizens

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not adopt the Reform Agenda even at its last session, thereby risking the loss of an additional 108 million euros. While countries in the region are already using funds from the Growth Plan, BiH still has no access to funds because domestic politicians have not agreed on the text of the Reform Agenda. Due to the delays, 108.5 million euros have already been lost, and the European Union has warned that funds for BiH will be reduced again by the same amount if the document is not adopted by the end of September 2025.

Because of this, the Initiative for Monitoring European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a coalition of civil society organisations, calls on the clubs of delegates in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to request the scheduling of an urgent session dedicated to the European path of the country. That session should discuss the adoption of the Reform Agenda within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the consequences its non-adoption produces for the citizens of BiH.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the Western Balkans that, even a year after the deadline expired, has not adopted the Reform Programme, better known to the public as the Reform Agenda, which has already led to a significant reduction in funds. The fact that even after this sanction the Council of Ministers did not reach an agreement shows that the warnings of the European Union were not taken seriously and that additional institutional engagement and calls for political responsibility are needed. The irresponsible behaviour so far causes direct harm to citizens, further damages BiH's credibility in the European integration process, and sends a negative signal to investors about the stability and predictability of the country.

The non-adoption of the Reform Agenda best illustrates the stagnation on BiH's European path. Since the approval of negotiating status in March 2024, none of the key conditions for holding the first Intergovernmental Conference between BiH and the EU have been met. Reports and conclusions of EU institutions adopted in the past year also point to stagnation and regression in many areas.

The Council of Ministers has not taken these warnings seriously, which is why parliamentarians, as directly elected representatives of BiH citizens, must show political responsibility and use their powers. Members of the Initiative call on deputies to support the initiative for an urgent session of the House of Representatives and oblige the Council of Ministers to urgently adopt the Reform Programme, before the deadline for adoption, i.e., new sanctions.

European integration is the most important foreign policy goal of BiH and requires a cross-party approach. Broad support from all delegate clubs would be a clear signal of responsibility and readiness to continue BiH's European path. This is an opportunity for the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, ahead of the visit of Commissioner Marta Kos, to show that it has the strength to exercise oversight over the executive branch and can steer reform processes in the interest of citizens," stated the Initiative for Monitoring European Integration of BiH.