TOMORROW IS D-DAY How sanctions can be imposed, there is also the option of 'punishment' on a bilateral basis!

Written by: A. Čorbo-Zećo

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During his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America Gabriel Escobar most often used the phrase 'undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement'. He said this in the context of announcing sanctions and other economic mechanisms against companies that support activities aimed at undermining Dayton.

Properly interpreted, this could mean that the starting point for imposing sanctions will be the European Commission's decision from 2011.

Namely, during the mandate of Catherine Ashton, on March 21, 2011, a decision was made by the then European Commission, which determines the EU to impose sanctions (punishment) on persons who threaten, obstruct, and fail to implement the Dayton Peace Agreement in any way.

That decision also established the manner in which and when European sanctions are imposed and adopted. The decision to impose sanctions (the so-called European blacklist) is not made by consensus or unanimously, but in a way that requires a majority vote of EU member states for its validity, but member states that have a qualified majority of 65 percent of the total EU population.

Tomorrow, November 15, the foreign ministers of Europe, all 27, are meeting and deciding on sanctions.

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So, if the first criterion is met, a majority of 27-14 states, the second must also be met, so they are cumulatively added together.

The largest states, those with the largest populations, should vote for the decision. This is how decisions are made in Europe, by majority based on population. That majority is two-thirds of the total EU population. Therefore, it is important that among these 14 countries, if they vote for sanctions, the majority are EU states with the largest populations.

Consequently, small countries, with small populations, even if there are more than 14 of them, cannot make a decision on sanctions.

If the foreign ministers do not make a decision, the possibility remains that each EU country can impose sanctions on a bilateral level.

Judging by the announcements, Germany, which is also the proposer of the sanctions, could be the first to do so.