Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
6. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the urgent need for the European Union to conduct a strategic re-assessment of its approach in Bosnia in view of the serious concerns raised by leading civil society activists in the country and the Bosnian community here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23098/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, and indeed all 27 member states of the European Union, fully and firmly support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective as a future member state. It was with the intention of further strengthening its policy and its presence on the ground that the EU took the decision in July 2011 to establish a single, reinforced EU representative who would take a lead in supporting the country’s progress towards integration with the EU. Peter Sorensen took up the double-hatted role as EU Special Representative and head of the EU Delegation on 1 September 2011, with a four-year mandate. As we approach the halfway stage in that mandate it is appropriate that we look at the progress made and assess our strategic approach in Bosnia. There is no doubt that progress has been disappointing. There had been hope that the transformative power of EU accession and the attractiveness of membership of the European Union would encourage Bosnia’s leaders to make the painful reforms required to move towards accession. While there has been progress in some areas, there has been no agreement on implementing the European Court of Human Rights ruling on the Sejdi-Finci case. Failure to implement this ruling hurts the citizens of the country first and foremost.
I agree with the Deputy that now is the time for a comprehensive review of the EU’s engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. I believe this can best be done in the context of a review of the EU Special Representative’s mandate.
I thank the Tánaiste for his response and welcome his comments. He will be aware there is a strong and vibrant Bosnian community in Ireland. It is important to note that morale within that community is very low. There is much concern about the future of their fledgling state and country. The Bosnian state is coming out of a bloody and dreadful conflict where more than 100,000 people have been killed and it needs the complete attention of the European Union. Given that from July there will be a border with Bosnia when Croatia joins the European Union, it is essential that the challenges facing them are addressed, particularly the judgment to which the Minister referred. Essentially, there is a sectarian straitjacket in Bosnia where one must identify oneself as Bosniak, Croat or Serb in order to run for President or the Upper House. In other conflict resolution areas, such as Northern Ireland, at the very least one has the opportunity not to accept the label of Nationalist or Unionist. The fact that has not been moved on requires action. What steps will the Government take in the short time remaining of the Irish Presidency to advance the issue?
As the Deputy has said, Croatia will accede to the European Union on 1 July. Progress has also been made in respect of Serbia and Kosovo, and High Representative Ashton brokered a significant agreement between the two Prime Ministers a number of weeks ago which will allow for progress to be made on their accession. Progress has been made in respect of all the countries in the Balkans with the exception of Bosnia-Herzgovina. The aim of the European Union is to support and embed a stable and viable Bosnia-Herzegovina, co-operating with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards EU membership. EU membership for Bosnia-Herzegovina is firmly tied to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country. The EU strategy towards Bosnia-Herzegovina was set out in the European Council conclusions in March 2011 and the successive reinforcing conclusions. Since September 2011, we have installed a reinforced and comprehensive presence in the country, combining the assets of the European Commission, the European External Action Service and the European Union Special Representative office, while the European Union military force, the EUFOR ALTHEA, remains present in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Great efforts have been made to encourage the political leaders of Bosnia-Herzgovina to move forward with reforms. Those reforms have not happened. There were hopes last year, following the agreement to form a government and the passing of two laws to move ahead with the stabilisation and association agreement, that Bosnia's leaders were at last putting the interests of the country first and doing what was required to move forward on EU accession.
There is the view among international observers and civil society representatives in Ireland that there is an unhealthy relationship between business leaders, political leaders and organised crime within Bosnia and that the elite which is running the country is not acting in the best interests of the broad citizenry. I ask the Tánaiste very specifically if he would be prepared to meet representatives of the Bosnian community in Ireland and listen to their concerns. The issues in Bosnia pale into insignificance the debates in this House in terms of the back and forth of politics because it is still a very fragile state. The community in Ireland, which has contributed so much, wants reassurance that the Irish Government is treating the conflict resolution issue and the Bosnian state as a priority.
May I ask the Tánaiste about another issue that has been brought to my attention by the Bosnian community, that is, the major difficulty for Bosnian farmers when Croatia accedes to the European Union on 1 July? Apparently, it is very dependent on that particular market to sell its products. The Bosnian community here will argue that in the partnership agreement to date with the European Union, Croatia has met the competences and the standards required. With the Single Market, I do not know whether a particular trading arrangement is feasible. It is an issue that should be raised if a community is living in very difficult circumstances where that important source of revenue is cut off, and perhaps some arrangement can be reached to try to soften that blow.
I am conscious that there is a significant Bosnian community in Ireland. I am always willing to meet people and discuss their concerns. I share the concern about what is not happening in Bosnia. Membership of the European Union and the process of accession is conditional on a country reaching certain standards in respect of its democracy, human rights issues and rule of law. These are critical values of the European Union on which we cannot compromise. The authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina are aware of what they have to do to meet the standards required for European Union accession. There is a pathway, the stabilisation and association agreement, towards accession which addresses some of the economic and trading issues. The problem, however, is that sufficient progress is not being made in Bosnia on the reforms required in order for the accession process to be progressed. There are hopes that the accession of Croatia and the closer engagement with the European Union of other states in the Balkan region would encourage political leaders in Bosnia to move forward. Unfortunately, we have not seen that progress, and it is worrying. That is one of the reasons we need to have a renewed look at the European Union approach to the situation in Bosnia.
