EU warns Bosnia's Serb entity over provocative rhetoric, actions

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The European Union on Wednesday warned Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to cease its provocative and divisive rhetoric and actions.

Following a meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council of the EU, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized Republika Srpska.

Borrell said the undermining of the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be brought to an immediate end.

''Here, I want to refer especially to the initiatives, laws and announcements from Republika Srpska that, from my understanding, run against the European Union’s perspective of the country and further isolates this entity from Europe,'' he said.

Borrell said that these actions, if they continue, “could have serious consequences.”

''Provocative and divisive rhetoric and actions, including questioning the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country, and the glorification of convicted war criminals must stop, because there is no place in Europe for those engaged in such activities,'' he said.

The chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Kristo, expressed hope for her country to start the negotiation process for EU membership by the end of this year.

Bosnia received candidate country status in December 2022.

Republika Srpska in late June adopted a law annulling the validity of decisions by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court.

RS President Milorad Dodik said in a speech that the decision will be the foundation of the entity's independence.

The internationally appointed High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, annulled the decisions taken by the entity and declared that they could not enter into force.

The entity's assembly, however, decided not to publish any decisions taken by Schmidt in its official journal.

The Constitutional Court consists of three Bosniak, three Serb and three Croat judges.

In order to overcome a crisis that emerged after two of the Serb judges withdrew and one of them was forced to retire, on June 19, an extraordinary decision was made to hold a session without the participation of Serb members.

Dodik, who reacted harshly to this step by the Constitutional Court to pave the way for its functioning without the participation of Serb judges through a rule change, demanded that the decision be annulled.

Bosnia-Herzegovina's top priorities are joining the political and economic community of European states as well as NATO.