National Integration Programme – a strategic document for the integration process

BiH is the only country aspiring to join the EU that does not have a National Programme for EU Integration – a strategy which would confirm and drive the determination to reform. As a result, the priority given to different EU related reforms is not defined. Problems in the integration process are addressed in an ad hoc basis meaning that BiH is falling behind its neighbours in the region.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) includes the immediate obligation for BiH to develop and implement a programme to approximate BiH legislation with the EU laws, in its article 70 – which is commonly referred to as the National Programme of Integration, and the National Programme of the Adoption of the Acquis. The SAA clearly defines what are the priorities for legislative harmonisation: the Internal Market acquis and other trade related issues. It is important to note that in part because of BiH’s failure to prepare such a programme and to transpose EU standards, BiH, and in particular its farmers, are going to face a number of problems when Croatia joins the EU, where only EU rules and standards will be applicable.

The Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration, Nevenka Savic, answered some questions about the meaning and importance of the National Programme for Integration.

What is the National Programme of Integration and what stage is BiH at regarding the adoption of this Document? Is BiH late in this process?

This document defines the plan for the fulfilment of the criteria for EU membership, and the plan for harmonization of domestic legislation with the EU acquis. It might also eventually include financial assets, needs for translations, education etc. The Programme is important because it improves the efficiency and simplifies the planning, monitoring and implementation of all activities in the process. The Programme consolidates the existing planning documents relating to the integration process. Since it identifies which institution (in line with the competencies), and when takes over implementation of certain part of EU Acquis and harmonizes it with domestic regulations. A pre-condition for its creation is to establish an efficient co-ordination mechanism as one of two remaining obligations from the Roadmap for a credible EU application. However, as the Programme is not defined by the SAA and there is no deadline for its establishment, we cannot talk about whether BiH is late or not in this process. Article 70 of the SAA foresees the creation of the Program/Plan of harmonization of legislation, and it may be part of a detailed document like the Programme of Integration.

Which BiH institution has the obligations and responsibilities for the Programme? Do we have the plan for the Programme’s establishment?

The NPI should involve an overview of all activities in this process, the institutions in charge of certain activities, the deadlines and the required resources. Such a planning document should be accepted by all those institutions involved in the process as ‘their’ document and, therefore, work towards its implementation. That is why efficient co-ordination is a pre-condition for the establishment of the Programme. No institution can create it independently, since no single institution has the mandate to plan in the name of all the other institutions and on different levels of authority. The Directorate prepared those methodological documents needed for the Programme. It relates to the Programme’s structure, suggestions for establishment of its textual part, and the formatting of tables. The relevant documents for computer support to the Programme are also prepared, as well as format of reports on its realization and initial division of the Acquis. The Directorate has undertaken all professional and logistic preparations for the establishment of such a planning document.

The only consistent occurrence in the integration process is constant delay and postponement of fulfillment of obligations defined by the SAA and the Roadmap. What concrete action or activity might end this?

The problem with the existing co-ordination is that it does not allow for an efficient definition of the agreements at an expert and political level, in activities in the EU accession process that would respect the interests of all domestic factors. This is especially obvious in the conditions when it is necessary to co-ordinate numerous conditions within short deadlines, and to co-ordinate the stances of all the different levels of authority. One example that recently confirmed this was response given to the list of questions from the European Commission in the areas of environmental protection and public procurement. It was pleasing to note that the job was completed by the deadline and that one of tasks defined by the Roadmap for a credible EU application was fulfilled. However, experience and comments from the European Commission about delivered responds has shown that one of the main obstacles in the process of responding to the questions was the fact that the co-ordination mechanism needed further strengthening.

The second part of question is in the domain that is not in competency of the Directorate as expert and operative body. What the Directorate can confirm is the fact that the EU integration process requires strong political support and practical commitment. Such experience shows that results cannot be missing when there are strong linkages between political willingness, the work of executive and legislative authority, and interest of the public. There are several examples where BiH acted in such a way as a credible partner of the EU.

Europa.ba