From Dayton to Brussels: Working Together for a Stable and Democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina

By Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

25 years ago, the Dayton Peace Agreement ended the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II. A devastating conflict that led to genocide, over 100,000 deaths, and over a million refugees. Memories of this war in the heart of our continent will remain with us forever.

Looking back at the last 25 years, significant progress has undoubtedly been made in building a stable and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina. But the journey is not over yet. Much hard work remains to ensure that all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina can look forward to a more prosperous future with confidence, based on a clear political perspective: EU integration.

The history of Bosnia and Herzegovina is European, and the future of the country and the entire Western Balkans lies in the European Union. The 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement is an important moment that should encourage political leadership and domestic institutions to transition from the structures that ended the conflict to the principles that accelerate progress for all citizens. In other words, to transition from Dayton to Brussels.

Today, there is no doubt that the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in the European Union. With the European Commission's Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for EU membership, adopted by the Council last December, the country's authorities have a clear roadmap of reforms to implement to make progress on the European path, including constitutional reforms.

We cannot change the past, but we can shape the future – together. European integration is the only and most important goal – with about 80% support from BiH citizens – on which political parties in BiH and the wider public agree. Due to the lack of a clear positive vision for the future, young people, some of whom were not even born when the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed, have been leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina for years to find a better tomorrow elsewhere. The European integration process and accompanying reforms may not convince everyone to stay in the country, but they will certainly help to consolidate lasting peace and prosperity.

The European Union is already BiH's leading economic and political partner, and recently in the fight against COVID-19 and socio-economic recovery from the pandemic's consequences. We are now working on the implementation of an unprecedented Economic and Investment Plan, as well as the Green Agenda, laying the foundations for a better-connected, greener, and people-centered growth Western Balkans.

Young generations anywhere in the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, expect leaders to work on climate change, develop plans for sustainable growth, and a digitally connected world. They want education that will enable them to succeed in life, while realizing their full potential in their own country. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs new ideas and contributions from young people. Their world should not be limited. Young people have the right to self-determination, to grow up without prejudice, and to shape their own future independently.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress on the European path must also be accompanied by genuine reconciliation. Political actors should follow the example of the majority in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as good neighbors, colleagues, and friends, and actively promote coexistence. Regardless of the divisive rhetoric predominantly present in the media and political discourse, it is evident that what unites people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is far stronger than what divides them.

With its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity, Bosnia and Herzegovina is traditionally "united in diversity," just like the European Union. The war brutally disrupted this diversity, but it did not destroy it – Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a culturally rich and diverse European country.

Because of the past, but above all because of the future of this beautiful country and its people, the use of inflammatory rhetoric, historical revisionism, and the glorification of war criminals is unacceptable. The darkness of war in Europe should remain in history books. From them, we learn and respect facts, focusing on building lasting peace and a society based on democracy, the rule of law, equality, non-discrimination, and full protection of human rights.

The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina demand this. They can count on the European Union's support in these aspirations, with the realization of these aspirations being in their hands.