Quint and EU Delegation Reaction: Conclusions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska are Anti-Dayton and an Attack on the Constitutional Order of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - The Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) and the Constitution of BiH unequivocally confirm the primacy of both the Constitution and the Constitutional Court of BiH. The Dayton Peace Agreement clearly states in Annex 4, Article 3: "Entities and any of their subdivisions shall abide in their entirety by this Constitution, which shall supersede any inconsistent provisions of the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the entity constitutions and laws, as well as by the decisions of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is stated in a joint reaction to the conclusions of the 16th special session of the National Assembly of the RS entity, issued by the embassies of the Quint (USA, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy).

"All laws and conclusions adopted by lower bodies – including the parliamentary bodies of both entities – must be in accordance with the Constitution, in accordance with the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of BiH," the reaction stated.

The conclusions adopted early this morning by the assembly of the smaller BiH entity block decision-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its European path.

"No entity has the authority to challenge the primacy of BiH institutions or laws. The conclusions adopted last night by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska represent a serious threat to the country's constitutional order and as such are anti-Dayton and directly undermine the authority of the rule of law institutions at the state level and BiH's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

At a time when the formal opening of accession negotiations with the EU has never been closer, a return to political blockades would have negative consequences for all citizens of BiH, the majority of whom support EU accession.

We, the embassies of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy, together with the Delegation of the European Union to BiH and the EU Special Representative, reiterate our support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character of BiH, as well as for the High Representative who, in accordance with his mandate under Annex X of the Dayton Peace Agreement, is the final interpreter of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement," the reaction from the Quint and the European Union stated.