Presidency to consider proposal on Thursday: Will BiH join the mini-Schengen?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – On Thursday, September 17, a session of the BiH Presidency will be held to consider the initiative for BiH to join the "mini-Schengen". The session was previously convened by Chairman Šefik Džaferović, and then the other two members requested extraordinary sessions. Željko Komšić requested that Kosovo's recognition be considered, and Milorad Dodik requested that the BiH Presidency declare its position on moving the BiH Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, after Serbia undertook to move the Embassy by July 2021 under the Washington Agreement (Serbia-Kosovo-USA).

After the meeting of the members of the BiH Presidency with the US Special Representative for the Balkans, Matthew Palmer, Džaferović stated that he first requested that important life issues be discussed.

"I ask that we observe all these processes with a cool head and approach them accordingly. I ask that important life issues be discussed first, these six topics (related to the fight against the pandemic, BiH's European path, the implementation of the Reform Program submitted to NATO, the fight against illegal migrations, the fight against human trafficking, and an initiative that is taking a stance related to the mini-Schengen)," said Džaferović, adding that each member of the Presidency has the right to request an extraordinary session and that he will convene them.

When it comes to the mini-Schengen, this initiative could receive the support of the BiH Presidency as it brings benefits to the overall economy of BiH.

This initiative includes Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia, and the plan is for BiH, Montenegro, and Kosovo to join, which would cover a market of about 18 million inhabitants.

While export-oriented businessmen support BiH's accession to the mini-Schengen, some economists are cautious, believing that in times of migration and organized crime, opening borders and free movement of people can also cause harm.

In an economic sense, the mini-Schengen would enable the signatory countries easier procedures for the transport of goods and people, recognition of diplomas, and free movement of labor.

Two extraordinary sessions will also be held to consider Komšić's and Dodik's proposals. Neither proposal will receive support, and Dodik is aware of this.

"I don't see a problem with the topic of recognizing Kosovo being on the agenda, and I will vote against it and invoke vital national interest again. And thus, we will reach a decision, which we do not have now, neither that we have recognized it nor that we have not. This is a good opportunity, and I can thank Mr. Komšić for this initiative. The man did it for rational reasons, and it can be good to define things. Just as I am aware that two members will be against moving the Embassy to Jerusalem," Dodik said on September 9.