Peacebuilding and the European Union (2)
The EU’s Involvement in Bosnia & Herzegovina
This series of Briefing Papers aims to outline the work of the European Union (EU) in the field on Peacebuilding, how it is involved in Conflict Zones and International Actors (illustrated by Case Studies). The papers are intended to act as an introduction to this topic and to help provide understanding of the EU’s work in this field.
This paper outlines the policy of the EU and the role it plays towards Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Contents:
• The Current Situation in Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Why the EU is involved in Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU Policy towards Bosnia & Herzegovina
•
Financial Aid to Bosnia & Herzegovina
• EU Actors in Bosnia & Herzegovina
• The Need for Coherence & Co-ordination
• Other Papers in this Series
The Current Situation in Bosnia & Herzegovina
In 2004 International Alert & Saferworld reported that the security situation in Bosnia & Herzegovina is “considered stable, albeit still fragile” and a resumption of armed conflict between the Bosnians, Croats and Serbs “is no longer considered a credible possibility”. There are however concerns over the slow economic recovery leading to new security problems, particularly criminality and corruption. Return to top of page
Why the EU is involved in Bosnia & Herzegovina
Along with the historical ties and moral obligations that the EU has in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the wider Balkan region, the EU has a vested interest in the stability of the region. The European Security Strategy states that neighbouring countries “who are engaged in violent conflict...pose problems for Europe” and identifies the need for a “ring of well- governed countries to the East of the European Union” . If the region around, which includes the Balkans and therefore Bosnia & Herzegovina, is stable then the stability and security of the EU is also improved.
Further background on the EU’s relations with Bosnia & Herzegovina available from: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/bosnia_herzegovina/
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EU Policy towards Bosnia & Herzegovina
The goal of EU integration
In June 2003 the European Council stated, “The future of the Western Balkans (including Bosnia and Herzegovina) is within the European Union” . The integration of countries into the EU is a powerful foreign policy tool and has enabled the EU to extend “its zone of peace and democracy across the European continent” through expansion . Bosnia & Herzegovina, along with other Western Balkan countries, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo (as defined by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, have been offered the long-term prospect of accession to the EU. The European Commission’s website clearly states: “EU integration is one of the main political objectives of Bosnia and Herzegovina” . The Stabilization and Association Process and the Stabilization and Association Agreement
The Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) provides the policy framework for the EU’s involvement in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the other Western Balkan countries. It is linked to the process of accession to the EU. The Western Balkan countries have undertaken to meet the political and economic requirements to be considered for membership of the EU. The SAP is a partnership between the EU and each country tailored to the development level of the each particular country. In the SAP the EU offers a mixture of trade concessions, economic and financial assistance and contractual relationships .
The SAP of Bosnia & Herzegovina allows for the establishment of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) to allow for formal contractual relations with the EU.
Progress Achieved
In 2003 the European Commission undertook a Feasibility Study to assess if Bosnia & Herzegovina was in a suitable situation to negotiate a SAA. The Feasibility Study set out a set of priorities (16 in total) for Bosnia & Herzegovina concluding that negotiations should be open for a SAA once “significant progress” had been made in meeting these.
In October 2005 the Commission assessed the progress of Bosnia & Herzegovina in addressing the priorities set out by the Feasibility Study. In its Communication to the Council of the European Union on this subject it concluded that significant progress had been made and was “in a position to recommend to the Council the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia & Herzegovina” .
According to the European Commission website “The establishment of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement is crucial for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aspirations to be part of the EU. It is expected that the perspective of negotiating and concluding this agreement will act as an incentive for the acceleration of the reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
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Financial Aid to Bosnia & Herzegovina
The EU has provided substantial financial support to Bosnia & Herzegovina. According to the European Commission website, since 1991 2.5 billion euros have been set aside to deal with the situation in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
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EU Actors in Bosnia & Herzegovina
There are a number of different actors from the EU involved in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The High Representative and EU Special Representative
The Office of the High Representative (OHR) is the chief civilian implementation agency in Bosnia & Herzegovina. As set out in the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement.
The High Representative has significant powers. The High Representative has powers “to remove from office public officials who violate legal commitments and the Dayton Peace Agreement, and to impose laws as he sees fit if Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislative bodies fail to do so” . These powers were given to the High Representative by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) , at a conference in Bonn in 1997 and are referred to as the ‘Bonn Powers’.
The High Representative also has the role of EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Bosnia & Herzegovina. The EUSR reports to the Council of the European Union through the Secretary-General and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Further background is available from the OHR website (http://www.ohr.int/) and the EUSR website (http://www.eusrbih.org/).
European Commission Delegation
Established in 1996 the Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina “plays a key role in the implementation of external assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina” and since 1998 “manages projects directly from start to finish on behalf of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in close contact with the EuropeAid Co-Operation Office” .
Further information is available from the Delegation’s website: http://www.delbih.cec.eu.int/en/index.htm
EU Police Mission (EUPM)
The EUPM was launched at the beginning of 2003 and is the first mission to be initiated under the European Security and Defence Policy. The EUPM acts as a follow up to the previous United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF). The objective of the EUPM it to “establish sustainable policing arrangements” so they are at the level of best European and International practice. The EUPM concentrates on the strategic priorities of institution and capacity building at management level, fighting organised crime and corruption, developing the financial viability and sustainability of the local police and the promotion of police independence and accountability . The mandate of EUPM was set to expire on 31 December 2005. On 24 November 2005 the Council of the European Union adopted a joint action allowing the mission to continue until the end of 2007 .
A Case Study of the role of the EUPM in Bosnia & Herzegovina can be found in the 2004 report by Saferworld/International Alert on Enhancing EU Impact on Conflict Prevention, “Strengthening Global Security Through Addressing the Root Causes of Conflict”, available to download from: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/publications/EU_presidency_04_irish_dutch.pdf
Further information is available on the work of the EUPM at: http://www.eupm.org/
EU Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) – Operation Althea
Following the conclusion of the NATO mission in Bosnia & Herzegovina (SFOR) the EU launched EUFOR on 2 December 2004. EUFOR is the first mission to be conducted under the framework of the ESDP. EUFOR involves the deployment of 7,000 troops in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The key objectives are:
- To provide deterrence and continued compliance with the responsibility to fulfil the role specified in the Dayton Peace Agreement
- To contribute to a safe and secure environment in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in line with its mandate, and to achieve core tasks in the OHR’s Mission Implementation Plan and the SAP.
Further information on EUFOR at: http://www.euforbih.org/
EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM)
The role of the EUMM is to:
- Monitor political and security developments as well as border monitoring, inter-ethnic issues and refugee returns.
- Contribute to early warning and confidence building measures.
The EUMM is based in Sarajevo and it operates in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It has approximately 120 international Monitors and 75 locally employed personnel.
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The Need for Coherence and Co-ordination
One of the key challenges with this number of actors is ensuring coherence and co-ordination in policy and activities in Bosnia & Herzegovina. This has been recognised by the EU. In a paper on European Security Strategy – Bosnia and Herzegovina / Comprehensive Policy (http://www.eusrbih.org/policy-docs/?cid=1,1,1), which was adopted by the European Council on 17/18 June 2004, it is stated that it has been decided “that a number of arrangements would be made in Brussels and Sarajevo in order to promote coherence of the EU effort in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The issue of coherence and co-ordination also needs to be considered in the relationship of the EU with other International Actors in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Return to top of page
Other Papers in this Series
(1) The EU's Role in Peacebuilding HTML PDF (85 kb)
(3) The EU's Involvement in Africa HTML PDF (79 kb)
(4) The EU's relationship with the United Nations HTML PDF (73 kb)
(5) The EU's relationship with the United States of America HTML PDF (75 kb)
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