Tineke Strik and Dietmar Köster wrote that the EU’s failure to take a tougher stance against the Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik could exacerbate the political crisis that is sweeping Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tineke Strik is a member of the Dutch Green European Parliament and Dietmar Köster is a member of the Dutch Socialist and Democratic European Parliament
The EU Foreign Minister failed to agree on sanctions against Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik for violating the Dayton Peace Agreement and threatening the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shows the lack of urgency to respond to this crisis is still widespread among some EU ministers.
During our visit to the country ten days ago, we became more aware of the authenticity of this political crisis. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are indeed afraid of a new war and have noticed the same worrying signs as in the 1990s.
The international community underestimated the severity of the crisis. In fact, it bypassed democratic institutions and procedures by focusing negotiations on self-proclaimed ethnic leaders, while seriously ignoring elected representatives, let alone opposition politicians and civilized society.
Since the boycott of state institutions in July, in response to legally enforced laws that deny genocide, Milorad Dodik has been taking serious and urgent steps to separate the country’s Bosnian Serb entity from the Republic of Serbia.
Last month, he called on the Bosnian Serb Regional Council to conduct an unconstitutional vote, which would illegally withdraw and transfer important powers to the state level, and has already passed a vote to withdraw from federal medical institutions, thus taking the first step. mechanism.
He further announced the establishment of his own army and held Provocative paramilitary exercises Close to Sarajevo.
As long as Dodik and his supporters do not feel the actual threat of targeted sanctions or other forms of serious international counterattacks, they will continue to escalate this crisis, which may eventually lead to divisions, and thus risk the occurrence of violent conflicts and endanger the world. Stablize. The entire Western Balkans.
Just after the EU foreign ministers’ meeting ended, Dodik issued a statement reiterating that he will continue to vote on the withdrawal of national-level authority. This fact clearly shows that he feels more firm about the inaction of the council.
However, the council and committee seem to think that authoritarian nationalists like Dodik will listen to rational voices and hope to negotiate to get rid of this crisis; to ease the situation rather than actually solve the problem.
Negotiations with Dodik sent the wrong signal that would further aggravate the current tensions and hinder any positive development or progress in the country’s progress towards European integration. This means that the EU is willing to make concessions on its own values and principles as well as agreements to maintain peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Giving in to Dodik’s so-called demand-to transfer land ownership from the national level to the physical level-will not only actually help him get closer to realizing his separatist agenda, but it will also set a worrying precedent for the future.
Whenever Mr. Dodik or other dictators in the region want to pursue a certain goal, they will know exactly what is the most effective strategy: deliberately escalate the crisis and wait for EU negotiators to fly in and ask your request.
Severe and targeted sanctions are an appropriate response to these dangerous actions that threaten the integrity and peace of the EU’s neighbours and an aspiring candidate who has suffered terrible consequences of indecision by the international community in the past. .
The fact that Dodik lobbied his authoritarian friends Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban a week before the Foreign Affairs Committee convened shows that he is indeed worried that the European Union will respond in a unified and strong manner.
Financial sanctions will hurt him and his entourage because they have many assets in EU member states and may lead to a change of course.
The political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be overcome by imposing sanctions alone. It is vital for the international community to renew attention and formulate an agenda focused on social cohesion.
Our EU’s engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina should shift from nationalist leaders who are obstructing any viable future in the country to a vibrant civil society working to build a better future for the country.
Empowering NGOs and civic movements and building their capabilities should be our top priority to ensure that they participate meaningfully in democratic life, dialogue, and the process of EU enlargement.
The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve the consensus reached 26 years ago: peace, democracy, stability, and have a say in the future of their country (Europe).
