Samenvattende nota over het gezamenlijke rapport " De toekomst van het Europees beleid in Bosnië-Herzegovina door Javier Solana en Eurocommissaris Oli Rehn (en)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a potential candidate country with its own unique challenges. A tailor-made strategy and strong international engagement, including active and comprehensive use of all EU's tools and mechanisms, will be necessary to keep it moving forward steadily towards the European Union. The report outlines a comprehensive strategy for a reinforced European engagement. It presents ideas on the transition from Office of the High Representative (OHR) to increased local ownership supported by a strengthened EU presence. The report builds on previous joint papers on the EU's policy in BiH, and is by nature preliminary. Further reflection will be needed in the coming months. The decision to close the OHR remains subject to review and confirmation by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board.

Political assessment

On 16 June 2008 BiH signed its Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. This was a reminder that, over a longer period of time, a process of slow but steady stabilisation has taken place in BiH. Unfortunately, this has not prevented a deterioration of the political situation in BiH in recent months.

BiH needs to show more political responsibility and greater ownership of the reform process to advance to the next stages of the European integration. The EU stands ready to help and reinforce our engagement. However, BiH's own leaders will need to translate their words of commitment to EU membership into actions and real results. The gap that exists at present between the citizens' aspiration to join the EU and their politicians' will to deliver must be closed if BiH is to advance on its European road.

The EU strategy

The international community's (IC) and the EU's objective in BiH remains to ensure a stable, peaceful and multiethnic country irreversibly on track to EU membership.

A comprehensive EU approach including the Community and Common Foreign and Security Policy / European Security and Defence Policy (CFSP/ESDP) elements will be key to ensure stability in BiH and continued progress on key reforms.

This approach is based on the following points, outlined in the paper:

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  A reinforced EU engagement in BiH: EU integration represents a policy area that all BiH leaders agree on. This gives the EU unique leverage and responsibility.
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  Planning for a reinforced EU presence: The mandate and the office of European Union Special Representative (EUSR) should be updated and reinforced to reflect the situation on the ground and the needs of transition. The EU should aim to be ready by mid 2009.
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  A new UN Security Council Resolution: It will be needed eventually to end the OHR and HR's mandate and deal with the issue of residual authorities deriving from Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement.
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  Maintaining a strong IC engagement in support of BiH's future: Broad IC involvement in BiH has proven important, and should continue also beyond the OHR.
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  Active and comprehensive use of all the EU's tools and mechanisms available: A comprehensive EU approach should mobilise all the possible EU instruments with consistency and determination. The European Partnership and the SAA implementation should be drivers of reform. The evolution of the ESDP operations should take political developments into account.
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  Clarity on the EU's position on constitutional evolution: Constitutional reform is neither a requirement for OHR closure nor for BiH's further journey towards the EU. Nevertheless, the constitutional framework must evolve to ensure effective state structures capable of delivering on EU integration, including the requirement to speak with one voice. The EU can support constitutional reform with expertise and funds, but the process must be led by BiH