EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Geoff
Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Thank you for your Explanatory Memorandum dated
14 July 2006 which Sub-Committee C considered at its meeting on
20 July. The Sub-Committee agreed to clear the document from scrutiny.
We agree that the mandate of the Special Representative
in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be strengthened in order to promote
stability in the country following the closure of the Office of
the High Representative on 30 June 2007.
We note from your memorandum (paragraph 14)
that there is a possibility that the EUSR will become double-hatted
with the Head of the Commission Delegation, and that any such
proposal will be the subject of a separate Joint Action. We are
currently considering the broader issue of double-hatting as part
of our inquiry into the Commission's recent Communication "Europe
in the World". However, in relation to Bosnia we believe
that there are strong grounds for double-hatting given the leading
role played by the EU within the country. Accordingly, we hope
that you will give your fullest consideration and support to such
a proposal, so long as the proper measures for transparency and
accountability are put in place.
25 July 2006
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP to the
Chairman
Thank you for your letter of 25 July. I am pleased
that the Sub-Committee cleared the document from scrutiny.
With the planned closure of the Office of the
High Representative in June 2007 and the increasing importance
of Bosnia's European perspective in maintaining the momentum of
reform, we agree that a fully co-ordinated EU presence there is
vital. The EU will need to discuss this matter in greater detail
in coming months, and we will, of course, endeavour to keep the
Scrutiny Committees fully informed and consulted.
17 August 2006
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