The European Union (EU) has assessed this Tuesday the "genuine competition" shown in the elections held last Sunday in Bosnia and Herzegovina, although it has expressed its concern about the "difficulties related to ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)" used to organize and develop the elections, the "complex procedures" in the voting and counting phases, as well as the "problems with the secrecy of the vote."
As Brussels has recalled, ICT has been used for the first time in elections in the country with the aim of addressing "long-standing concerns about electoral integrity." The EU has welcomed its use at the national level with "satisfaction," but has noted the existence of "delays and deficiencies" that have undermined "transparency in the implementation phase," according to the official statement released by the European Commission.
In this context, the European Union has acknowledged the "considerable efforts" made by the Central Electoral Commission to "fulfill its responsibilities, despite the "persistent institutional and operational limitations that affect the efficiency and timeliness of its work."
Once the election results are certified, the EU emphasizes that the elected officials must "fully assume the responsibility of promptly forming the authorities at the state, entity, and cantonal levels." Brussels stresses that it expects all political leaders to participate in this task in a "constructive, good faith manner, taking into account the common interests of all citizens."
Along the same lines, the community capital has urged the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen "trust among people and communities" and to build a "consensus" that allows Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance on its "path towards the EU." At the same time, it has reiterated that the country will continue to have its "support" and that it will collaborate with the "new authorities on all reforms related to the EU."
The community bloc has also demanded that Bosnia and Herzegovina implement all the "relevant measures established in the Commission's recommendation of 2022, in accordance with the European Council's decision of March 2024 to start accession negotiations." According to the EU, this step would open the "way" for the Council to approve the negotiation framework and for the first intergovernmental accession conference to take place.
Furthermore, Brussels has urged Bosnia and Herzegovina to make the "most of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans." In the opinion of the European Union, to avoid "further loss of funds," the country must "urgently finalize the legal and institutional framework" and advance in the implementation of the "committed reforms."
These transformations, the EU has emphasized, improve the "quality of life of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with their aspirations for EU membership," and has reiterated its "unequivocal commitment" to the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a "unique, united, and sovereign country."