Calls for sanctions against those responsible for violating the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina marked the session of the European Parliament, which on Wednesday evening discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and secessionist threats, after the authorities of the Republika Srpska entity adopted a series of unconstitutional laws.
Addressing MEPs at a session in Strasbourg, European Commission representative Kristof Hansen said that BiH had entered an institutional and political crisis, and called on the country's government representatives to focus on reforms to progress on the path towards integration into the European Union (EU).
He assessed that the RS entity had made a serious setback by adopting an unconstitutional law on February 27 banning the work of the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council on the territory of RS, thereby jeopardizing the constitutional order of BiH and the functionality of its institutions.
The RS authorities initiated the adoption of a series of unconstitutional laws after Dodik was sentenced in the first instance before the Court of BiH on February 26 to one year in prison and a six-year ban from holding office for disrespecting the decisions of the High Representative.
The unilateral termination of the jurisdiction of the state of BiH over a part of its territory is not in accordance with the Constitution of BiH, which was confirmed on March 7 by the Constitutional Court of BiH, adopting a temporary measure to suspend the adopted law.
Despite the binding decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH, as well as calls from the international community to stop threatening the constitutional order of BiH, the RS authorities claim that they will not abandon this regulation.
"The EU expects politicians to refrain from actions that could create divisions and create new tensions," said Hansen, also emphasizing that the adoption of the law on 'foreign agents' in RS jeopardizes fundamental freedoms.
He recalled that due to the current situation, EUFOR decided to increase the number of members in BiH.
EUFOR reserve troops began arriving in BiH on March 11th, citing it as a preventive measure, following increased tensions in the country due to the adoption of unconstitutional laws in RS.
"The EU's response is clear and unambiguous. We expect the RS authorities to respect the decision of the RS Constitutional Court and to suspend laws that threaten the constitutional order and to enter into dialogue with the aim of reducing tensions," said the European Commission representative.
Hansen concluded that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH must be respected and said that the European Commission would continue to closely monitor developments in BiH. This, he said, also applies to the possibility of the RS entity adopting a new Constitution, which was approved at the session of the entity's Assembly on 12 March.
'Putin's puppet'
During the debate at the plenary session of the European Parliament dedicated to the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, calls could be heard, among other things, for sanctions to be imposed on those who violate the Dayton Peace Agreement.
This was requested by MP Tineke Strik, on whose initiative the hearing was scheduled, assessing that "Dodik's illegal moves represent a threat to the peace and integrity of BiH."
This MP called Dodik a "puppet" of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Balkans.
"Dodik does not act in the interests of citizens or for their well-being. He is ready to fulfill any demand from Moscow, even if it means war," she said, emphasizing that the goal of the pro-Russian president of the RS entity is to retain power and enrich himself.
She called on the EU to respond to the moves of the RS authorities with sanctions, such as freezing assets and banning entry into EU territory, as she said, with the aim of protecting BiH.
'The Kremlin's destructive influence'
Czech MEP Ondrej Kolar said that the EU must influence "the weakening of the Kremlin's destructive influence on the RS", emphasizing that "a hybrid war with Russia is also being waged in the Balkans".
"We know how things ended in Ukraine, and now we must send soldiers to BiH to prevent a repeat of what I saw as a boy in the media in the mid-90s. Those who violate the Dayton Peace Agreement should be sanctioned and let's not let BiH down again," he said.
Croatian MP Gordan Bosanac also described as worrying the news about, as he said, separatist efforts to dismember BiH.
"It is important to support a unified and sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina and condemn every form of separatism. This is the crowning glory of failed policies," he said.
He assessed that this is a system that has, for the past 30 years, delivered fear and unrest instead of progress, which is why it is "time for change."
"I call on the citizens of BiH to resist separatism. Do not let them drag you into hatred for the second time. We are waiting for you in the EU," said this MEP from Croatia.
At the European Parliament session, messages could also be heard that BiH needs peace and security, not divisions, undermining the constitutional order and raising tensions.
Austrian MP Andreas Schider said ahead of the debate that Dodik is endangering the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina with "secessionist actions and nationalist rhetoric and policies."
"From a European perspective, it is necessary to take a clear position and support the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in carrying out their constitutional tasks," he said.
However, during the debate in the European Parliament, rare messages of support for the RS authorities could be heard, as well as assessments that the EU should stabilize the Western Balkans, and not "create a new flashpoint", which was the position of French MEP Andrea Roug. He said that the EU must not implement measures "that will open the wounds of the past".
The European Union last week called on the political leadership of the RS entity to refrain from provocative rhetoric and divisive actions, including questioning the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of BiH.
The European Parliament was in session on the same day that the RS authorities, led by Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, made a new secessionist move, adopting a decision in the RS National Assembly to begin adopting a new Constitution for this BiH entity.
The RS Parliament is scheduled to discuss the draft RS Constitution on March 13th, which defines the entity as a state of the Serbian people and also provides for the right to self-determination and the establishment of its own army.
At the same time, the BiH Prosecutor's Office issued an order on Wednesday to detain Dodik for questioning, as well as for RS Prime Minister Radovan Višković and the Speaker of the National Assembly of that entity, Nenad Stevandić.
The order stated that they were suspected of the crime of attacking the constitutional order, but they were not detained on Wednesday, March 12th.
For SIPA, the arrest of Dodik, Stevandić and Višković is high-risk
The arrest order came after the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced that it had been conducting an investigation since December last year due to reasonable suspicion that the criminal offense of "attack on the constitutional order" had been committed.
In accordance with procedures, the Prosecutor's Office requested their detention for questioning after Dodik, Višković and Stevandić failed to respond to summonses to give statements.
The BiH Criminal Code provides for a five-year prison sentence for acts of attack on the constitutional order, as well as the possibility of a ban on holding office.
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