14 Stabilisation and Association Agreement
with Bosnia and Herzegovina
| (25097)
15242/03
COM(03) 692
| Commission Report on preparedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 18 November 2003
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 28 November 2003
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 11 December 2003
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| Discussed in Council | 9 December 2003
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
14.1 The Commission has produced this Feasibility Study on the
preparedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to open negotiations
for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) as part of
the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process (SAp) for the Western
Balkans. Feasibility reports were introduced as a prelude to
the negotiation of an actual SAA for countries with limited administrative
capacity and where widespread reform was necessary for EU integration
to become a reality.
The Commission report
14.2 This Feasibility Study was based on a six-month dialogue
between the European Commission and Bosnia and has helped the
Bosnian authorities to better understand the requirements, far-reaching
and often deeply technical, of EU integration.
14.3 The report finds that Bosnia has made considerable
progress since the conflicts of the 1990s were brought to an end.
It is a member of the Council of Europe, has established normal
relations with its neighbours and is a strong supporter of regional
cooperation. Many refugees have returned and most property claims
have been settled. Democratic elections have been held and the
infrastructure has been largely restored. The currency is stable,
inflation is low and steps have been taken to strengthen the judiciary.
However, the country is still in the process of establishing
a self-sustaining state and many fundamental reforms are still
required. Bosnia has not yet assumed full responsibility for government.
14.4 The report identifies the key reform priorities
for 2004, including full cooperation with the International Criminal
Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) by some of the BiH's governmental
institutions, particularly those in Republika Srpska, more effective
public administration, a stronger fight against organised crime
and a stronger judiciary, a genuine internal economic space, budgetary,
customs and taxation reform, and reform of public broadcasting.
According to the report, BiH is also engaged in a number of other
crucial reforms essential to the stabilisation of peace under
the Dayton-Paris Peace Accords. These include reforms to the
defence and intelligence services and the administration of the
city of Mostar. These reforms will have a fundamental bearing
on Bosnia's ability to function as a modem, democratic state and
as a potential candidate for membership of the EU.
14.5 Bosnia should be able to address all these priorities
in the course of 2004, provided further sustained efforts are
made, if not stepped up. As soon as the Commission has ascertained
that significant progress has been made, it will decide on a recommendation
for a Council Decision to open negotiations for an SAA. It hopes
that this will be possible in the latter part of 2004, but the
timing will depend on the Bosnian authorities' own efforts. The
Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Hilary Benn)
comments that the Government understands that the Commission's
SAp report in spring 2005 is a more likely scenario. If progress
is insufficient, the Commission will recommend further reform
rather than the opening of negotiations
14.6 In order to galvanise reform, the Commission
will hold regular meetings of the EU-Bosnia Consultative Task
Force to supplement its regular annual SAA progress reports, the
European Partnership to be published in spring 2004, and the Community
Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stability (CARDS)
financial assistance programme for strengthening key public institutions.
The Government's view
14.7 The Minister (Mr Denis MacShane) says that the
UK welcomes the Feasibility Study. It represents a real opportunity
for Bosnia as the Commission has made clear what more needs to
be done if negotiations are to open on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement. He says:
"The pace of progress is now in Bosnia's hands.
We are encouraging Bosnia to grasp this opportunity and redouble
reform efforts, in particular [by] improving co-operation with
ICTY —where Republika Srpska's record is still poor."
Conclusion
14.8 This Feasibility Study provides a useful
insight into what Bosnia and Herzegovina has to do before it is
in a position to enter into negotiations on a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the EU. The Commission, as so often
in its reports, urges greater efforts, whilst expressing optimism
at the speed at which progress might be made. We note that the
Government believes it more likely that the Commission will report
again to the Council in spring 2005, rather than in late 2004,
as suggested in this report.
14.9 We now clear the document.
| 
