BiH would accelerate reforms by opening negotiations, which would bring concrete results over time

Mostar (Fena) – Although the opening of negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union seems uncertain due to political instability and internal disagreements, this step would represent an important turnaround in the process of European integration and a concrete incentive for the implementation of necessary reforms. The Director of the Office of the Government of the West Herzegovina County for European Integration Ivan Jurilj explained in an interview for Fena that the opening of negotiations with the EU would primarily mean a significant political breakthrough for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the beginning of a more serious integration process.

He emphasized that BiH is already meeting certain requirements through reforms and alignment with European criteria, but negotiations would bring more order, clearly defined deadlines, and concrete obligations. – This would actually mean the most serious approach to this process in which we are already involved – said Jurilj, adding that a stricter procedure would be established in which it would be clear what BiH must do and what follows if it does not do so.

He adds that BiH, after signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, has taken on a number of obligations, some of which have been fulfilled, while others have not, but despite this, the EU has shown a certain flexibility and has been accommodating to the country.

Jurilj pointed out that the negotiation process with the EU is quite clear. When certain conditions are met, progress can be made. Citizens may not initially feel significant changes in their daily lives, but reforms would accelerate, which would eventually bring concrete results.

– It is often heard that the opening of negotiations automatically opens new funds from the European Union. In the past, access to funds was indeed conditioned by the status of the country, whether it was a candidate, a potential candidate, or whether the country had opened negotiations. However, that is no longer the case today. Access to funds primarily depends on meeting specific conditions set by each individual program or fund of the European Union – he explained.

Jurilj notes that BiH already has access to funds from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for the period 2021 – 2027, but not in all its components. For example, BiH is currently not using funds from the IPARD program for rural development and agriculture because it has not yet met the necessary conditions, and those conditions are not related to the start of negotiations.

However, Jurilj emphasizes that the opening of negotiations could accelerate the fulfillment of those conditions, as greater focus would be placed on reforms. He also stresses that these are not classic negotiations. – These are not negotiations in the classical sense, where conditions are discussed and it is expected that the European Union will make concessions. We are not negotiating the conditions themselves. They are predetermined and known. The negotiations exclusively concern deadlines, methods of implementation, and technical aspects of meeting those conditions – he emphasized.

He also mentioned the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, worth six billion euros, which has already been activated in other countries in the region, but BiH is lagging behind due to political disagreements and the lack of consensus. (24.05.)