STRASBOURG – On Wednesday evening, the European Parliament urged for peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina in light of heightened tensions stemming from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik’s recent actions. Croatian MEPs expressed concerns regarding the risks associated with unitary policies and the notion of a ‘Serbian world’ during their discussions.
On the same day, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested that police agencies question Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska (RS) Radovan Višković, and National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić. Dodik responded with a declaration regarding plans to adopt a new constitution for the entity, suggesting that the political climate in BiH could soon mirror the disintegration of Yugoslavia.
During that day’s plenary session, members of the European Parliament addressed what they termed “secessionist threats” in BiH.
“It appears that the drive for reforms has diminished, and BiH has fallen back into an institutional and political crisis,” remarked Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, representing the European Commission. He stressed the necessity for Bosnia and Herzegovina to resume its reform efforts to avoid missing out on a potential billion euros in investments from the Western Balkans growth plan.
MEP Željana Zovko (HDZ/EPP) expressed disappointment that the debate took place so late in the evening, suggesting a lack of interest in BiH issues.
The discussion on BiH was a brief half-hour segment at the tail end of the European Parliament’s plenary agenda on Wednesday.
Zovko noted that the current escalation is driven by both separatist and unitary policies that “disrespect the fundamental rights” of citizens. She argued that the only path to stabilization is through electoral law reform; without it, BiH will “continue to be a ticking time bomb in our immediate neighborhood.”
Green MEP Gordan Bosanac emphasized the need to support a united and sovereign BiH while condemning separatism. He argued it is equally vital for the citizens of BiH to denounce such actions, which he described as a culmination of failed policies rooted in nationalism, nepotism, and corruption.
MEP Davor Ivo Stier stated that the EU, USA, and NATO have recently demonstrated their commitment to preventing destabilization in BiH.
“We also urge Serbia to renounce the notion of a ‘Serbian world’ and to denounce separatist policies that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of BiH,” he stated.
“BiH requires peace, security, and a European perspective, rather than division and erosion of its constitutional order.”
MEP Karlo Ressler addressed the concept of a ‘Serbian world,’ which some Serbian politicians propose as a means to unify all Serbs into a single state.
“The ongoing crisis did not emerge overnight. For years, the delicate structure of one state, two entities, and three constituent peoples has been eroded from multiple directions,” he explained.
His party colleague, Tomislav Sokol, added that “while some in BiH look towards Moscow and Belgrade, and others towards Ankara, Croats consistently uphold European values such as democracy and equality.”
Sokol remarked that the threat of separatism is frequently discussed, yet the issue of unitary policies is often downplayed. (March 13, 2025)
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