Reform copy-paste: The platform of the two Trojkas is anything but substance - how to avoid key issues while claiming to solve them!

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The agreement between the two Trojkas, one from the Federation and the other from Republika Srpska, which is to be signed in Sarajevo, appears at first glance to be a series of diplomatically packaged promises without real political or legal weight.

The agreement looks like a set of well-phrased promises, but without legal weight or implementation mechanisms, which is in principle the most significant, as we should not forget the Agreement with SNSD signed in 2022, which also looked very good on paper, just as the boasting of the Trojka leaders towards Milorad Dodik about how the SNSD leader is a new politician ready for compromise was melodious.

Marketing and populism about the imagined European path are the essence of the agreement that two political outlaws of the international community, or rather two trojkas, should sign tomorrow. If one were to look only at the number of signatories tomorrow, an uninformed person would think it is a serious political force, but the real picture shows that these are enthusiasts who base their plans on the goodwill of others, much stronger ones.

However, that is not the focus of this text. Because the agreement to be signed tomorrow is much more important for determining the political role and intentions of the two blocs under the same mantra.

And in the agreement, EU, European goals, growth plan, corruption, fight against crime, and so on. The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its already defined interests, or what its interests should be, are not even mentioned in passing.

It is not so much unexpected as it is brazen and reckless mockery of the state and its citizens, orchestrated by Sarajevo political outlaws under the banner of the international community. Perhaps it is foolish, but it was still expected that after the now catastrophic agreement with Milorad Dodik and Dragan Čović, the Sarajevo Trojka would not repeat the mistake and sign an agreement that, in its content, would not prioritize the interests of the state, which would make Bosnia and Herzegovina stronger, better, and more advanced.

Today, they are convincing us with new stories, that Dodik showed his true face, and they, in this new coalition, which is highly questionable due to HDZ, will unblock the EU path of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In reality, such a document has no power to unblock the EU path, unless it is accompanied by real legislative and institutional steps that are currently paralyzed in BiH. This platform is a political tool to show "willingness for reforms", but it avoids key issues such as state property, and does not include key actors like SNSD, which is in power in Republika Srpska, so the question is how an agreement is expected.

The omission of state property is particularly concerning, clearly showing that the most difficult issues are being set aside, which only prolongs the status quo.

Thus, the tricolor coalition consisting of Nermin Nikšić, Elmedin Konaković, and Edin Forto, reinforced by political minions Nermin Ogrešević, Šemsudin Mehmedović, and Fuad Kasumović, offers no way to resolve state property in the agreement with the reformists for a better tomorrow from Republika Srpska.

One of the most important and controversial issues in BiH is state property, especially the relationship between the entities and the state regarding its disposal. This topic is not even mentioned in the document, although it is at the heart of the political crisis between RS and the state level.

State property is also a key condition for further progress towards the EU, as it concerns the functioning of the rule of law and the rule of law, and is an integral part of the 5+2 Agenda and the final closure of the OHR.

It is very likely that this topic was not included because the parties are unable to reach a compromise, so it was deliberately excluded to avoid political tensions, which contradicts the expressed "commitment to peace and dialogue", and which could later call into question the sustainability of this coalition.

Because sweeping problems under the rug does not mean they do not exist.

Otherwise, the document uses very general, diplomatic terms that seem to be taken from a series of previous declarations and statements without concrete operational value.

For example, an uncompromising fight against corruption, with no defined mechanisms or deadlines; the introduction of modern technology in elections, only equipment is mentioned, but not the legal basis, supervision, or system testing.

The introduction of a differentiated VAT rate is a serious fiscal measure, but it is not explained how it will be harmonized with entity competencies and the Fiscal Council. We know how many problems the Federation, for example, has with this topic; we have been waiting for fiscal reform since 2023.

Simply put, the document appears more like a political platform for public impression and an international signal than a real reform plan.

EU integration is mentioned frequently, but not a single concrete deadline is specified, nor what is being done to fulfill the 14 priorities from the European Commission's Opinion from 2019.

Essentially, there is no legal basis; no draft law, blueprint, or concrete institutional step is listed.

In the agreement, only the EU path is defined as a foreign policy goal, but BiH's foreign policy is already defined and, besides NATO integration, involves much more, and this can be changed by a new strategy or laws, not by some agreement.

In the end, a platform that bypasses key issues, does not include all relevant political actors, and does not offer concrete legal or institutional steps, is nothing more than another attempt to present form as substance. In the meantime, time passes, and citizens remain hostages of the status quo.