European Parliament resolution on the outlook for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date: 2006-02-16
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Bosnia and Herzegovina, European integration, economic development, economic stabilisation, political reform

29.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 290 E/401

Thursday 16 February 2006

Considers that the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue and the advancement of

18.
mutual understanding and respect are an ongoing challenge for the globalised world;

Firmly believes that development in this regard will make full use of the framework of cooperation

19.
and dialogue with the Mediterranean and Asian partner countries;

20.
Recalls that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly is the appropriate forum for working
together with the EU's partners on the southern bank of the Mediterranean for a democratic, pluralist and
tolerant society based on the values of human rights; calls for this problem to be dealt with as a priority
issue by the March session;

21.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Council of
Europe, the governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
and the Arab League.

P6_TA(2006)0065

Outlook for Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Parliament resolution on the outlook for Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular that of 14 April
2005 on the state of regional integration in the western Balkans (1), that of 17 November 2004 on
the European Union military operation ‘Althea’ in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) and that of 7 July 2005
on Srebrenica (3),

— having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council on the progress achieved by
Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the priorities identified in the ‘Feasibility study on the pre-
paredness of Bosnia and Herzegovina to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the
European Union (COM(2003)0692)’ (COM(2005)0529),

— having regard to the Council Decision on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the
European Partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina (15267/2005), namely the short- and medium-
term priorities identified as regards political requirements,

— having regard to the Commission's 2005 enlargement strategy paper (COM(2005)0561),

— having regard to the Commission communication entitled ‘The Western Balkans on the road to the EU:

consolidating stability and raising prosperity’ (COM 2006)0027),

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Thessaloniki agenda sets a clear perspective for European integration and states unequivo-
cally that the future of the western Balkans lies in the European Union, once they meet the established
criteria, and whereas the Stabilisation and Association Process is the initial phase of the European inte-
gration process,

B. whereas on 25 January 2006 the EU started negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina for a Stabili-
sation and Association Agreement (SAA) and whereas the European Union continues to present itself as
a reliable partner for its neighbours, committed to promoting stable democracies and prosperous econ-
omies with a view to integration into the EU, especially for the western Balkans,

(1) OJ C 33 E, 9.2.2006, p. 565.
(2) OJ C 201 E, 18.8.2005, p. 77.
(3) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0296.

C 290 E/402

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2006

Thursday 16 February 2006

C. whereas the start of the negotiations adds further pressure for institutional reform and for creating fully
efficient, transparent and stable state institutions which can take the necessary decisions for adopting
and implementing EU standards and values in the legislation,

D. having regard to the urgent need to develop an efficient state administration and judiciary, establish
modern, non-segregational education systems and promote social and economic inclusion measures for
returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in general, to the need for further vigorous reform efforts in
order to make the economy more competitive,

E. whereas, despite huge progress in many fields, the country is still deeply divided along ethnic lines and

the reconciliation process is not complete,

F. whereas talks have started between the main Bosnian political forces with a view to amending the
constitution following the Brussels talks of 12-14 November 2005 and the Washington Declaration of
21 November 2005 in consultation with the United States Institute for Peace; whereas these talks, due
to end by March 2006, must lead to a constitutional and institutional model that gradually moves away
from ethnic divisions and recognises individual rights instead of collective rights,

G. whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina would not be able to achieve the necessary incorporation of the EU
acquis and integration into the EU with its present institutional framework, although significant pro-
gress has been made, including the establishment of new institutions at state level,

H. whereas the newly appointed EU Special Representative/High Representative for Bosnia and Herze-
govina, who has inside knowledge of the country, has declared that preparing Bosnia and Herzegovina
for European integration and focusing on economic development are now crucial,

I. whereas NATO successfully concluded the mission of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) and the European
Union took over responsibility on 2 December 2004, launching the European Force in Bosnia and
Herzegovina (EUFOR) Operation Althea,

J. whereas the Austrian Presidency has made the western Balkans region one of its priorities and is
planning to hold a substantial discussion on the western Balkans during the informal meeting of fore-
ign ministers to be held on 10 and 11 March 2006 in Salzburg,

1. Welcomes the opening of negotiations on an SAA and stresses that the pace of negotiations will
depend on the ability of the country's three main communities — Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats — to agree
on the schedule of reforms, and on the country's ability to implement them,

2.
Notes the breakdown, in mid-January 2006, of the talks between the Serb, Croat and Bosniak political
party leaders initiated by an American non-governmental organisation on the revision of certain constitu-
tional mechanisms, although they partially reached agreement on the strengthening of the Prime Minister's
powers and the expansion of the central government;

3.
Asks the government, the parliament and all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue actively to
engage in discussions, building on what has already been agreed regarding possible institutional reforms,
which should be aimed at inclusion of the values of democracy, human rights and equality among citizens
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the simplification of State structures and at consolidation of the State's self-
sustainability, overcoming ethnic division in a spirit of local ownership;

4.
Calls on the Council and the Commission to involve themselves more actively in the joint reflection
on institutional reforms by supporting the country's political forces and citizens in their search for a con-
sensus;

29.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 290 E/403

5. Welcomes the decision of the Council to appoint Christian Schwarz-Schilling as the EU Special Rep-
resentative/High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls on him and the Commission to find
ways to provide the necessary political, technical and legal assistance to the Bosnian leaders in their efforts
to reform the existing institutional framework;

Thursday 16 February 2006

6.
Underlines that the pace of reforms and their implementation will be determined by the ability of
domestic political actors to assume responsibility and increased ownership of the political process in the
country; calls on the new EU Special Representative/High Representative to use his powers with restraint so
as to encourage the development of genuinely strong and democratic domestic institutions;

7.
Recalls the importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina of a resolute transition from peace-building to
state-building, of which the constitutional evolution forms part; recalls that the speed of SAA negotiations
will depend, in particular, on progress in developing a proper legal framework and efficient public adminis-
tration;

Calls on the country's competent authorities and institutions that they must, in particular, honour
8.
their commitments to implement and complete the public broadcasting, police, defence and intelligence
reforms, in accordance with the agreed contents and schedule, and adopt and implement all the necessary
laws;

9.
Reconfirms that full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia is
a precondition for closer relations with the EU and a basic element for full reconciliation between all the
different components of Bosnian society with a view to healing the wounds of the recent tragic past;

10.
Asks the government authorities to redouble their efforts to complete the process of return of refu-
gees and displaced persons, especially from the point of view of implementation of the conditions to make
return sustainable (safety of individuals, access to reconstruction assistance, employment, health care, pen-
sions, utilities and education); expresses concern about the situation of the Posavina region in this respect
and asks that appropriate help be provided to those wishing to return;

Stresses that constitutional reform is not a precondition per se and cannot be imposed, but that the
11.
completion of SAA negotiations will require significant progress in implementing the conditions set out in
the European partnership document;

Supports the initiative to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission aimed at coming to terms
12.
with the recent past and dealing with the problems of justice and compensation, with a view to achieving
reconciliation between all the components of Bosnian society;

13.
Stresses that the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2006 will be crucial for
the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and progress on its path towards European integration, and calls on
all political leaders, parties and authorities to prepare and adopt the necessary reforms and take all measures
to guarantee free, fair and democratic elections once again;

14. Welcomes the police, defence, value-added tax (VAT) and public broadcasting reforms; emphasises the
need for a comprehensive action plan for public administration reform that is able to increase the capacity
for the implementation of reforms; calls for the preparation and implementation of an adequate anti-cor-
ruption action plan, and the rapid implementation of VAT law and police reform;

15.
Points out that the functional review of policing financed by the EU has confirmed that the level of
classic crimes is very low in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the percentage of solved crimes is quite high;

16.
Asks the government to pay more attention to the special needs of rural areas and to work with the
Commission on implementation of the reforms identified as being necessary for an effective agriculture and
rural development policy;

C 290 E/404

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2006

Thursday 16 February 2006

17. Welcomes the new Commission communication on the western Balkans, which aims at fostering
trade, economic development, movement of persons, education and research, regional cooperation and
civil society dialogue as a further step forward towards the integration of the countries of the region into
the European structures;

18.
Reiterates its calls for strengthened cooperation with the countries in the region on border control, as
part of a wider EU justice and home affairs strategy for the region, and looks forward to the progressive
easing of visa requirements which this process entails;

19. Welcomes the recently signed agreement between Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montene-
gro on the return of refugees and property reparations as an important step towards tackling the legacy of
about three million refugees and internally displaced persons; urges the Commission and the Member States
not to further decrease their contributions to housing reconstruction and economic sustainability projects
and, where possible, to make donations, loans and investments conditional upon employment opportunities
for returnees;

20.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of
the Member States, the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the governments of its entities, and the
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

P6_TA(2006)0066

Belarus

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Belarus prior to the presidential elections on
19 March 2006

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Belarus, in particular its resolutions of
10 March 2005 on Belarus (1), of 7 July 2005 on the political situation and independence of the
media in Belarus (2) and of 29 September 2005 on Belarus (3),

— having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2001 on Belarus (4), adopted prior to the 2001 presidential
elections, to the reports of the Parliamentary Troika, composed of members of the European Parliament
and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-
operation in Europe (OSCE), of 16 October 2000 on the political situation in Belarus in the light of the
parliamentary elections of October 15th, and of 4 October 2001 on the 2001 presidential election, and
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolution of 26 January 2006 on the situation
in Belarus on the eve of the presidential election,

— having regard to the award of its Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Belarusian Association

of Journalists in December 2004,

— having regard to the conclusions on Belarus issued by the Council following its meeting of 30 January
2006 and to the declaration by the European Union and the United States of 3 February 2006 on their
relations with Belarus,

— having regard to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Needs

Assessment Mission Report of 31 January 2006,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

(1) OJ C 320 E, 15.12.2005, p. 276.
(2) Text Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0295.
(3) Text Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0363.
(4) OJ C 65 E, 14.3.2002, p. 373.