MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement

14.12.2015 - (2015/2979(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Cristian Dan Preda, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Elmar Brok, Andrej Plenković, David McAllister, Eduard Kukan, Sandra Kalniete, Tunne Kelam, Andrey Kovatchev, Lars Adaktusson, László Tőkés, Jaromír Štětina, Michael Gahler, Michèle Alliot-Marie, Dubravka Šuica, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Ivana Maletić, Davor Ivo Stier, Gunnar Hökmark, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Marijana Petir, Fernando Ruas, József Nagy, Lara Comi, Dariusz Rosati, Claude Rolin, Roberta Metsola, Romana Tomc, Milan Zver on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1362/2015

B8-1396/2015

European Parliament resolution on the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement

(2015/2979(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto, initialled in Dayton on 21 November 1995, and signed in Paris on 14 December 2015,

–  having regard to the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including Resolution 2247(2015) adopted on 10 November 2015,

–  having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), of the other part, which was signed in Luxembourg on 16 June 2008 and entered into force on 1 June 2015,

–  having regard to the Council Conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina of 12 October 2015,

–  having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the HR/VP of 10 December 2015 on the decision of the Republika Srpska government to suspend cooperation with certain judicial and law enforcement agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Bosnia and Herzegovina,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the General Framework Agreement for Peace (hereafter Dayton Peace Agreements, DPA) put an end to the most devastating conflict to take place in Europe since the Second World War and paved the way for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH);

B.  whereas the war claimed over 100 000 lives, displaced millions and was marked by horrifying atrocities, including mass ethnic cleansing campaigns, genocide and numerous war crimes;

C.  whereas 20 years after the signing of the DPA, there are still tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and thousands of refugees in BiH;

D.  whereas the DPA has proven successful in ending the war and in post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction; whereas, however, the institutional set-up of the country, created by the DPA, is overly complex and has proved to be inefficient;

E.  whereas significant challenges remain in creating conditions for enduring and meaningful reconciliation in BiH;

F.  whereas the EU has repeatedly stated its unequivocal commitment to BiH’s European perspective and to its territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity;

1.  Commemorates the historic event of the initialling and signing of the DPA and commends the efforts of the people and authorities in BiH to consolidate peace, achieve reconciliation and strengthen political stability;

2.  Acknowledges the positive transformation that BiH has undergone in the past 20 years, from a war-torn country emerging from conflict to a state aspiring for membership of the European Union;

3.  Reiterates the EU’s commitment to the European perspective and the further accession process of BiH and of all Western Balkan countries; believes that regional cooperation and the European integration process are the best way to promote reconciliation and to overcome hatred and divisions;

4.  Calls on the BiH authorities to show determination in pursuing the reform path with a sense of urgency; recalls that addressing the socio-economic needs of citizens must be the priority; reiterates that it also crucial to continue, in parallel, with political reforms and democratisation of the political system, as well as the establishment of an effective coordination mechanism on EU matters, so as to facilitate the submission of a credible EU membership application;

5.  Recalls that constitutional reform aimed at consolidating, streamlining and strengthening the institutional framework remains key to transforming BiH into an effective, inclusive and fully functional state, guaranteeing equality of all its three constitutive peoples and other citizens; acknowledges that the reform of electoral legislation to ensure legitimate representation of the constituent peoples should be the first step in the constitutional changes;

6.  Reiterates the obligation to implement Annex 7 of the DPA to ensure sustainable return, including the return of Croats, Bosniaks and others into the Republika Srpska, as well as fair, comprehensive and durable solutions for internally displaced people, refugees and other conflict-affected persons, as well as to make progress in improving the socio-economic integration of those who have returned; calls on BiH institutions at all levels to step up efforts to determine what happened to the nearly 7 000 people still unaccounted for from the conflict in the country;

7.  Welcomes the continued presence of Operation EUFOR Althea, as part of a renewed UN mandate focusing on capacity building and training, and acknowledges EUFOR’s constructive role for peace and security in the country;

8.  Reiterates its call to the BiH political leaders to refrain from divisive nationalistic and secessionist rhetoric that polarises society, and to seriously engage in reforms that will improve the lives of BiH citizens, create a democratic, inclusive and functioning state and move the country closer towards the EU;

9.  Is deeply concerned by the Republika Srpska’s preparations to hold an entity-level referendum on the state-level judiciary, which challenges the cohesion, sovereignty and integrity of the country and risks undermining progress in the EU integration process; stresses that any shortcomings in the BiH judiciary should be addressed within the framework of the structured dialogue on justice;

10.  Deplores the decision taken by the Republika Srpska authorities, on the eve of the first ever EU-BiH Stabilisation and Association Council, to suspend cooperation with certain judicial and law enforcement agencies in BiH; insists that the rule of law must be respected throughout the whole territory of the country and stresses the importance of resolving this issue calmly and through dialogue;

11.  Stresses the importance of education for the purpose of reconciliation and mutual understanding in BiH and as a basis for sustainable peace and stability;

12.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its entities, and the governments and parliaments of the countries of the Western Balkans.