Why are authorities ignoring civil society in the EU integration process?

After excluding civil society representatives from the Structured Dialogue on the Judiciary, this practice continued during the meeting of the Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. Holding this meeting without the presence of civil society representatives may represent a warning signal that it will not be included when responding to the questionnaire that the EU will deliver on December 9, the Center for Security Studies announced, reports Patria.

- In a period when certain steps are being taken to obtain candidate status for membership in the European Union, it is unacceptable for civil society organizations to be sidelined - states Dr.sci. Denis Hadžović, Secretary General of the Center for Security Studies.

He also notes that the European Commission's 2016 Report on BiH explicitly states that "a strong civil society is a key component of a democratic system and that institutions should accept this and treat civil society accordingly."

- Neighboring countries, Serbia and Montenegro, have actively involved civil society in negotiations. Although the Structured Dialogue and the Subcommittee are not official negotiations, they represent significant preliminary steps, and it is important to ensure citizen participation in this process through civil society, especially considering the importance the European Commission attaches to the role of civil society in the negotiations themselves.

- Negotiating Chapters 23, Judicial Reform and Fundamental Rights, and 24, Justice, Freedom and Security, are chapters that, due to their scope and significance, are most often opened first and closed last - emphasizes Hadžović. By excluding civil society in these early stages, it is placed in an unenviable position and its quality and active engagement is hindered when Bosnia and Herzegovina enters the negotiation phase with the European Union.