Germany suspends four projects in Republika Srpska due to Milorad Dodik's secessionist policy

(Patria) - The German federal government has decided to allow four infrastructure projects in the Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska to expire, with a total value of 105 million euros, and to gradually terminate them.

The background to this is the continuation of the secessionist policy of Republika Srpska and its president, Milorad Dodik. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and project partners have been informed of this decision. These are the projects for the rehabilitation of the Trebinje hydropower plant, phases III and IV, the Hrgud wind farm, and wastewater treatment in Gradiška. The latter project is a subject of cooperation with the Swiss Confederation.

As a reaction to the decisions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska from December 2021 on returning competencies and creating its own institutions with the aim of weakening the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the German government decided in April 2022 to initially temporarily suspend four infrastructure projects.

However, the secessionist measures demanded by the German government were not withdrawn. Instead, the president and the Government of Republika Srpska continued to escalate the political crisis. The German federal government has therefore now decided not to re-initiate the suspended projects. The projects will be gradually concluded in accordance with the contract. This decision does not explicitly apply to other German development cooperation projects that are being implemented at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Western Balkan region, and thus include Republika Srpska, nor to cooperation with civil society.

The German government supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's approximation to the European Union. Germany is prepared to further intensify cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, both in the Federation and in Republika Srpska. The fundamental requirement, however, is the preservation of peace, the rule of law, and the territorial integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.