Lendo: Due to irresponsible authorities, citizens of BiH are the only ones in the region left without over two billion KM

(Patria) - FBiH Vice President Refik Lendo announced this evening that due to irresponsible authorities, citizens of BiH are the only ones in the region left without over two billion KM from the European Union.

"I received the official statement from the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirming that the ruling coalition (Trojka+HDZ+SNSD) at the state level of BiH did not submit a complete and harmonized Reform Program, with a feeling of regret for the missed opportunity and deep concern for the current state of Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutions.

The submission of a non-harmonized Reform Program has a financial consequence on one hand, reflected in the fact that citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the only ones in the region deprived of an amount exceeding 140 million KM, and possibly the entire 2 billion KM.

On the other hand, through irresponsible behavior, the authorities have caused irreparable damage to the reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the institutions of the European Union.

The political and general public was not indifferent to the announcements that over 2 billion KM would be paid from European Union funds to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the authorities assured that to receive the payment, it was necessary to first adopt the Budget Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, the authorities lied, and the structure of the adopted budget according to SNSD's needs reflects the balance of political forces within the state coalition.

It remains regrettable that the consequence of the irresponsible authorities' inaction will be a missed opportunity for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, this is also a strong message from the European Union institutions that the fulfillment of legal obligations, such as the adoption of the budget, will not be treated as a success, and that bad compromises for the sake of elections and appointments will not be compensated with European Union funds without substantive progress," Lendo stated.