EU Should Reinforce Its Engagement in Bosnia – Enlargement Commissioner Rehn

Post-war Bosnia consists of a Muslim-Croat Federation and a Serb Republic. Over the last months and especially before the October 5 local elections, its political leaders have been using sharp rhetoric, with Serbs demanding to obtain the right of their region to secede and some Muslim leaders calling for the abolition of the two entities.

The international community has been condemning such talk through its overseeing body in Bosnia, the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

The challenge for Bosnian politicians is now to achieve political consensus again. They should bring back European integration to the top of the agenda, Rehn told a news conference in Brussels, broadcast live on the European Commission Audiovisual Service, ahead of the publishing of the Commission’s 2008 Progress Report on Bosnia.

“My view is that we have to make sure that security and stability prevail in the short and, of course, in the medium and long term… In order to overcome the current political stalemate, we have to reinforce the EU presence in the country,” Rehn said.

He said the EU foreign ministers will discuss the political situation in Bosnia next Monday.

Rehn praised  Bosnia for signing in June a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, the first step to membership, and launching talks with the bloc on visa-free travel for its citizens.

“Unfortunately, this has not prevented the deterioration of the political situation,” he said.