EU concerned over situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina

EU ministers expressed concerns on Monday over the political situation in Bosnia and called on the authorities there to implement constitutional reforms. Foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states said in Luxembourg they wished to see Bosnia-Herzegovina as a future member of the EU, but before the integration process could continue, it was necessary to change the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution in relation to the Sejdic-Finci case. EU concerned over situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina A Jew and a Roma from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jakob Finci and Dervo Sejdic, sued the country to the human rights court in Strasbourg because it is impossible for minorities to run for high-level government positions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Even though the court in Strasbourg decided in their favor two years ago, the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution has not been changed yet, and they still cannot run in elections. The ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the EU was stopped after the court had decided, while reviewing the said case, that the Bosnian Constitution discriminated against citizens based on nationality. The ministers concluded at the meeting no Monday that the Bosnian leaders, who are unable to start the procedure to change the Constitution because of internal disagreements, should implement earlier agreements and unblock the decision process. The council of ministers also decided to increase assistance to courts and prosecutors once the international police withdraws from Bosnia-Herzegovina, so it could improve their ability to establish the rule of law. The ministers also condemned the attempts to minimize or deny the genocide that had occurred in Srebrenica and the nationalistic rhetoric of political leaders. Tanjug

EU concerned over situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina

A Jew and a Roma from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jakob Finci and Dervo Sejdić, sued the country to the human rights court in Strasbourg because it is impossible for minorities to run for high-level government positions in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Even though the court in Strasbourg decided in their favor two years ago, the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution has not been changed yet, and they still cannot run in elections.

The ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the EU was stopped after the court had decided, while reviewing the said case, that the Bosnian Constitution discriminated against citizens based on nationality.

The ministers concluded at the meeting no Monday that the Bosnian leaders, who are unable to start the procedure to change the Constitution because of internal disagreements, should implement earlier agreements and unblock the decision process.

The council of ministers also decided to increase assistance to courts and prosecutors once the international police withdraws from Bosnia-Herzegovina, so it could improve their ability to establish the rule of law.

The ministers also condemned the attempts to minimize or deny the genocide that had occurred in Srebrenica and the nationalistic rhetoric of political leaders.