Smajić calls on the "Trojka" to show the document where the EU demands a reduction of BiH's border zone

(Patria) - For two years now, I have been working intensively on removing illegally placed flags and "Welcome to RS" signs within BiH's border protection zone, which according to the current law is 300 meters from the border line, stated delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament Džemal Smajić on his Facebook profile.

Smajić says that the placement of entity symbols in this zone represents a direct violation of the law and an infringement of our state's sovereignty.

However, he adds, the new Border Control Law, which the authorities have justified in recent months as an "alignment with European legislation," provides for the reduction of the border protection zone from 300 to only 50 meters.

"The "Trojka" should show the public the document where the European Union demands a reduction of the border zone. It is important for citizens to know that this change practically legalizes the placement of entity flags and signs in the immediate vicinity of border crossings.

It is particularly concerning that this law was first adopted at a session of the BiH Council of Ministers, where ministers Elmedin Konaković, Edin Forto, Zukan Helez, and Sevlid Hurtić voted for it.

After that, it was supported in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly by the votes of Denis Zvizdić, Sabina Ćudić, Saša Magazinović, Peđa Kojović, and other representatives of the "Trojka" parties.

In addition to legal, this issue carries serious moral, political, and social implications that can have long-term consequences for our country.

The next step is the consideration of the law under an urgent procedure in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, and the debate is scheduled for January 30, 2025.

As a delegate in the House of Peoples, I will do everything in my power, together with colleagues from the Bosniak Caucus, to return the law to the regular procedure in order to improve it through amendments.

It is important to emphasize that in its proposed form, this law is neither European nor in line with European practice," Smajić stated.