EU must answer what it wants with Bosnia and the few Croats remaining there, says Zovko
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- An EU Parliament member highlighted the "worrying situation" of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are becoming increasingly fewer.
- Željana Zovko urged the EU to clarify its intentions for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Croats remaining there.
- She stressed the need for electoral and constitutional reforms to ensure the equality and political representation of all constituent peoples.
Željana Zovko, a Member of the European Parliament and the Foreign Affairs Committee, has voiced concerns over the "worrying situation" of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Speaking during a debate on EU enlargement and candidate countries' progress, Zovko highlighted the diminishing number of Croats, a constituent people, who remain in the country.
Today, Croats are once again facing the fact that they are entering another election cycle without the implementation of necessary electoral and constitutional reforms and without full implementation of the BiH Constitutional Court's rulings.
Zovko pointed out that Croats are once again facing an election cycle without necessary electoral and constitutional reforms, and without the full implementation of Constitutional Court rulings. She emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the EU cannot be built on lasting political imbalances. The equality of constituent peoples, legitimate political representation, and respect for the constitutional order are fundamental prerequisites for a stable, functional, and European Bosnia and Herzegovina, she stated.
The European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be based on lasting political imbalances, and the equality of constituent peoples, legitimate political representation, and respect for the constitutional order are fundamental prerequisites for a stable, functional, and European Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Addressing the future international engagement in the country, Zovko called for a serious discussion on the gradual transfer of responsibilities to domestic institutions. "As the European Union wishes to take stronger responsibility for the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we must open a discussion on how to ensure that domestic institutions take full responsibility for the country's future," she said. This includes a stronger role for the EU in the accession process.
As the European Union wishes to take stronger responsibility for the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we must open a discussion on how to ensure that domestic institutions take full responsibility for the country's future.
Furthermore, Zovko urged the European Commission and EU institutions to provide a clearer answer regarding the future structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "We must ask ourselves what kind of Bosnia and Herzegovina we want to build and how we intend to ensure that Croats, as the smallest constituent people, remain an equal and politically relevant factor in its European future," she concluded.
We must ask ourselves what kind of Bosnia and Herzegovina we want to build and how we intend to ensure that Croats, as the smallest constituent people, remain an equal and politically relevant factor in its European future.
Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.