Freedom of movement for Kosovars in Bosnia and Herzegovina is blocked by Serbian politicians

When it was signed by the prime ministers of the six Balkan countries at the end of 2022, the agreement emerged from the Berlin Process, which also includes the agreement on the free movement of citizens of the Western Balkan countries; the agreement on the recognition of academic degrees; When it came to the implementation of the agreement on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications of doctors, dentists and architects under the CEFTA agreement, it was not expected that they would not be implemented after such a long time. This agreement dates back to the Berlin Process, launched in 2014 on the initiative of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which aimed to break down even the smallest political barriers between the countries of the Western Balkans Connection and integration of these countries before their accession to the European Union.

Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as signatories would have to forward the agreements to the internal state bodies such as the government, the Assembly and publication in the Official Gazettes.

The first country to pass all these stages is Kosovo and the first to put them into practice, although Bosnia and Herzegovina has not passed these stages and despite the signature granted at the same time the Assembly of Republika Srpska a member of the Presidency has also vetoed. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s failure to implement the Berlin Process Agreement should be considered unacceptable and punishable by the European Union for all reasons.

From the countries of the region, there are citizens of Kosovo who cannot travel to Sarajevo because Serbian politicians Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, and member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljka Cvijanovic, oppose the free movement of Kosovars in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This opposition can be considered not only political, but also racist, as long as one of the statements is: “What do we need Albanians to come to Banja Luka?”. When the agreement was signed, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was a member of Dodik’s SNSD party, Zoran Tegeltija.

The current Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic, said that if the RS People’s Assembly supports the veto, “the agreements of the Berlin process will fail.” Their demise is obviously at odds with the will of the Western Balkan countries to integrate into the European Union.

The meeting of the prime ministers of the Western Balkans, which is being held in Bled, Slovenia, BSF2023, should be an appeal not only Kosovo, but especially the European Union, that compliance with the agreements to preserve and strengthen the European Union integration spirit of the six Balkan countries should become an obligation. While the actions of Serbian politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who prevented the implementation of the agreements signed by the government in Sarajevo, to be punished by the EU with concrete measures.

Free movement of citizens is a human right and any mechanism that hinders it is contrary to European values. The key to the success of the European integration goal for the countries of the Western Balkans should be the respect and implementation of the signed agreements. This should apply first of all to BiH./TheGeopost