MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
8.2.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Erik Meijer
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the outlook for Bosnia-Herzegovina
B6‑0105/2006
European Parliament resolution on the outlook for Bosnia-Herzegovina
The European Parliament,
- having regard 'The Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans: moving towards European integration', which introduced the European Partnerships as a means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries,
- having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council on the progress achieved by Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the priorities identified in the 'Feasibility Study on the preparedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union (COM(2003)0692)' (COM(2005)0529),
- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Dayton Agreement put an end to the war in October 1995 but did not succeed in establishing viable democratic structures and sustainable development for Bosnia-Herzegovina,
B. whereas new political initiatives are urgently needed in order to put a real end to the conflicts, the struggle for domination of one group over the others and the ethnic division of the country,
C. whereas peaceful, viable and lasting solutions cannot be imposed from outside but need the support of each different group within Bosnia-Herzegovina; whereas the discussions about reforms to streamline the country's central institutions have started but have not yet brought results,
D. whereas 7 000 European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) are still stationed in Bosnia-Herzegovina to prevent further violence,
E. whereas there cannot be peace without justice and therefore it is of the utmost importance to bring all those responsible for war crimes and other crimes to justice; whereas important steps have been taken to meet this challenge,
F. whereas Bosnia-Herzegovina is highly dependent on international financial support; whereas the economic situation is characterised by stagnation resulting in an officially reported unemployment rate of 40%; whereas young people in particular are affected by this; whereas 50% of Bosnia’s population are on or below the poverty line, 50 percent have no health care and 18 % no electricity,
G. whereas, following the signing of the Dayton Agreement, with international assistance more than one million civilians returned, but an estimated 620 000 refugees and internally displaced persons throughout the Balkans, mostly of Serbian origin, are still waiting to go home; whereas the economic situation is a serious obstacle to the final solution of the problem; whereas foreign aid has been sharply reduced,
H. whereas corruption, organised crime and black market structures represent major problems for the economy and society in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
I. whereas, in Thessaloniki, the European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 reiterated its determination to fully and effectively support the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries,
1. Believes that it is time to give real and comprehensive sovereignty to the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina;
2. Insists on the rights of the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina to determine the future of their country by themselves;
3. Welcomes the discussions on constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina; takes the view that the process of seeking consensus between Bosnians, Serbs and Croatians needs time and should be conducted without interference from outside; supports any solution which meets the challenges of true democracy, effective governance and respect for the multicultural nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina;
4. Calls for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces from Bosnia-Herzegovina as soon as possible;
5. Believes that further efforts are needed and additional measures should be taken to promote reconciliation between the different communities;
6. Stresses that social and economic development is the key to stable development in the region; calls on the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the EU to give top priority to the solving these problems; calls, therefore, on the Commission to include job creation as one of its priorities in its overall policy concerning the region;
7. Underlines the importance of enhancing regional and cross-border cooperation and reconciliation between the peoples of the Western Balkan countries as well as with their neighbours; considers that regional development and investment programmes, joint education and employment initiatives, and common transport and tourism projects should result in the establishment of joint mechanisms, such as a Western Balkan Customs Union, well before all the countries concerned join the EU;
8. Welcomes the recently signed agreement between Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro on the return of refugees and property reparations as an important step towards tackling the legacy of about three million refugees and internally displaced persons; urges the Commission and the Member States not to further decrease their contributions to housing reconstruction and economic sustainability projects and, where possible, to make donations, loans and investments conditional upon employment opportunities for returnees;
9. Welcomes the start of the negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina on 25 November 2005;
10. Expresses its full support for the difficult work of the ICTY and stresses once again that full cooperation with this body is a precondition for all the countries in the region enjoying closer relations with the EU;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Presidency, Government and Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its entities and the governments and parliaments of the countries in the Western Balkans.