Adoption of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest is a Non-Negotiable Issue

(Patria) - The Embassy of the United States of America, the Delegation of the European Union, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina have called on all competent authorities to enable the harmonization of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH institutions with international standards, which will contribute to the creation of a robust system for preventing conflicts of interest among public officials.

Preventing conflicts of interest of public officials is a key tool in the fight against corruption, and efforts in this area are essential parts of BiH's integration process into the European Union and are crucial for restoring the trust of BiH citizens in its institutions, they state.

The European Commission's Opinion on BiH's application for EU membership clearly states that the adoption and implementation of regulations on the prevention of conflicts of interest in accordance with international standards and GRECO recommendations is one of the 14 key priorities for BiH.

- The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina tasked the Ministry of Justice of BiH in January 2020 with drafting the Law on Conflict of Interest and submitting it to the Council of Ministers of BiH for adoption within 90 days, and this deadline has long expired - they remind in the statement.

As they state, the draft Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in BiH institutions, which the Ministry of Justice of BiH submitted for public consultation in December 2020, will not significantly contribute to improving the effectiveness of mechanisms for preventing conflicts of interest.

They warn that this proposal does not meet international standards and does not take into account GRECO recommendations, the implementation of which is necessary in the fight against corruption.

- Joint efforts made in drafting a law that does not contain strong provisions are a sign of the unwillingness of political actors to create a truly effective system for preventing conflicts of interest - they clearly stated in the statement.

The Embassy of the United States of America, the Delegation of the European Union, and the OSCE Mission to BiH have repeatedly pointed out the urgent need for reforms, and further delays in the adoption of this important law can only be interpreted as a failure to make progress on one of the 14 priorities. The adoption of this law is a non-negotiable issue.

As they conclude in the statement, progress in this area is crucial not only for BiH's progress on the path to the EU, but it is also a prerequisite for restoring citizens' trust in public officials and institutions and creating confidence among citizens that public officials do not work for themselves, but in the interest of this country and its citizens.