HR/EUSR Comments on HoR Failure to Adopt
Constitutional Amendments

The High Representative/EU Special Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling
today expressed his profound disappointment that the proposed
constitutional amendments were not adopted by the BiH House of Representatives
on Wednesday.

“I am deeply disappointed by the outcome. BiH has missed
a hard-gained opportunity to initiate the important process of modifying the
constitution in time for it to be applied in the October elections. The
outcome of last night’s vote sends a negative signal to

Europe, to the

US

and to the
International Community in general,” said the High Representative/EU Special
Representative. “But most of all, this is a loss for BiH”. 

“I and other members of the International Community have been personally
involved in this process. We have sought   to impress on members of
parliament the importance of the proposed amendments. The political parties,
public opinion and members of parliament were all perfectly clear that the
International Community was united in standing behind this project. The
proposed amendments were and remain necessary in order to start the
vital process of strengthening governance in this country. Those who
brought this package to failure must reflect on the consequences of their
actions,” he said. 

The High Representative also pointed out that a large majority of
Members of the House of Representative’s voted in favor of the package. Among
the population, more people have expressed themselves in favor of the package
than against.

The High Representative paid tribute to the party leaders who worked so hard
to reach consensus. He also commended the US Government for its facilitation
effort. 

“BiH now needs time to reflect on last night’s outcome and then agree on
how to move forward. The need to modify the BiH Constitution will not go
away. It is an issue that will have to be re-visited  – in order to better
equip BiH for EU integration, and better equip government to serve its
citizens.”