Do the EU and NATO know what they want in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

(Patria) - Yesterday's visit by high-ranking EU officials and the announcement of the upcoming arrival of the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, accompanied by the permanent ambassadors of the member states of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), undoubtedly shows the interest of these organizations in the state and progress of BiH on its path of integration towards the declared foreign policy goals of the EU and NATO.

This is stated in an analysis from the Center for Security Studies, adding: "By caring for the survival and functionality of BiH, they are undoubtedly directly protecting the interests of their countries, considering the facts that the instability of this region poses security, political, and economic challenges to the situation in their immediate environment".

"Therefore, the lack of a joint approach by EU and NATO representatives, or the absence of a common communication strategy of these two organizations in their approach to institutions, as well as to the citizens of BiH, is hardly surprising. The public remains somewhat confused by the individual statements of officials from Brussels, as well as by the authorities who prioritize European issues, failing to recognize and comprehend the significance of parallel efforts towards integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures that share common values and provide guarantees of security and economic prosperity," the analysis states.

CSS adds that a tailored joint communication strategy of the EU and NATO for BiH would aim to emphasize the benefits of cooperation and integration with these organizations.

"The common values of the EU and NATO are particularly emphasized in the areas of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the future development of BiH. NATO brings security and stability, which is a prerequisite for promoting the economic and social development brought by closer integration into the EU. The potential economic benefits of closer integration into the EU, reflected in increased trade, investments, and access to financing programs, are certainly perhaps
more attractive to the authorities in BiH, but political ties and cooperation are also very important for the state and citizens," CSS states.

They conclude: "Cooperation between NATO and the EU in BiH is carried out based on the Berlin Plus arrangements, which allows for close support of the military capabilities of these two organizations in providing stability and security within the Althea mission. And the immeasurable potential for partnership and cooperation between the EU and NATO in addressing common challenges and contemporary security threats is another reason that would support a joint communication strategy tailored to the specific needs and priorities of BiH, as well as the region. This would certainly also make a significant contribution to promoting the benefits of EU and NATO membership for the citizens themselves, who are undoubtedly committed to integration, but are also somewhat confused by the attitude of officials from the headquarters of these organizations and the inability of domestic authorities to prioritize strategic state interests."