7.2.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 47/97 Wednesday 6 July 2022
52.
Urges the authorities to adopt a new justice sector strategy and action plan and to adopt the amendment to the law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and the new Law on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with European standards;
53.
Calls on BiH to ensure the implementation and enforcement of all court decisions, recalling that the rule of law is integral to the country’s progress in Euro-Atlantic integration; points out a particularly low enforcement rate of judgments in environmental cases; calls for faster handling of cases by courts competent for administrative disputes against illegal acts of public authorities;
54.
Recalls the need to update laws and align with the EU on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, and to establish an asset recovery office;
55.
Urges BiH to strengthen and adequately organise and fund anti-corruption structures, covering conflicts of interest and lobbying; recalls the need for unhindered investigations into illicit enrichment of public officials; underlines the importance of addressing GRECO’s recommendations enabling detection and accountability; recalls the need to update laws and align with the EU on the protection of whistleblowers;
56.
Reiterates the need to investigate political and administrative links to organised crime; calls for administrative reform to eradicate corruption and for improved corruption monitoring mechanisms, as well as effective prosecution of high-profile corruption cases;
57.
Underlines the dangers posed by poor cooperation of BiH’s law enforcement agencies and their failure to effectively collaborate with Europol, Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office; welcomes bilateral efforts supported by Europol and Eurojust aimed at dismantling people trafficking networks;
58.
Calls for further enhancement in this cooperation also with the aim to fully operationalise the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism for the Western Balkans; encourages establishing a firearms focal point;
Fundamental rights
59.
Deplores the continuing failure to safeguard media freedom and pluralism; insists on eliminating political interference and protecting the safety and well-being, including the labour rights, of journalists, protecting them from intimidation, as well as from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), with systematic and effective prosecution, including immediate and effective investigative steps following any threats and attacks against them; calls on the authorities to assign a special layer of protection for journalists in criminal codes; deplores the increased gender-based violence against female journalists, including threats and discrimination at work;
60.
Calls for effective measures to ensure the financial sustainability and political independence of public broadcasters, notably of the BiH national public broadcaster (BHRT); urges the authorities to take action to identify a sustainable solution to BHRT’s funding problems and prevent its closure and to adopt legislation on media ownership transparency; notes with concern the lack of plurality in the media and difficulties for new actors to obtain licences and other elements necessary to operate in the Telecoms market; expresses its concern over the lack of a variety of traditional media channels, including the availability of content in all official languages;
61.
Deplores threats from the authorities against civil society; condemns the persistent restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in BiH, and growing restrictions on these rights in the RS entity; condemns in this context the decision of local authorities in Prijedor to ban the announced peaceful march marking White Ribbon Day, which commemorates civilian victims of the 1992-1995 war; calls for the adoption of a framework for the transparent funding of civil society organisations;