After several delays, Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Reform Agenda "at the last moment" in order to avoid new financial losses. This move represents the formal opening of the door for the continuation of financial support from the European Union (EU) through the "Western Balkans Recovery and Resilience Fund" mechanism, which was welcomed by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, stating that "BiH has demonstrated much-needed unity through this."
"We have the Reform Agenda! This is an important step toward unlocking the European Union’s Growth Plan. Together we can achieve: better roads, cheaper energy, faster internet, the removal of fees for financial transactions and roaming," Kos wrote on the social network X.
The adoption of the Reform Agenda by 30 September was a prerequisite for BiH to receive funds from the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, ensuring that BiH will not lose additional funds from the Fund, which originally amounted to nearly one billion euros.
Reform Agenda Adopted – What Comes Next?
News of the adoption of the Reform Agenda has triggered a series of reactions among key actors in BiH and the EU, revealing political divisions that continue to burden the reform process.
Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH, emphasized the dual nature of the event: while recognizing that "the adoption of the Reform Agenda is indeed a positive and necessary step for BiH on its path toward European integration," he also clearly warned of the damage that has already been done.
According to Soreca, "due to previous delays, the country has already lost significant financial support that could have been directed toward development and improving the living conditions of its citizens.” His conclusion is that now “the key lies in the swift and consistent implementation of reforms."
The Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto, expressed relief and determination. She emphasized that the adoption of the agenda demonstrates BiH’s readiness to respond to European requirements.
She described it as "an important step toward stabilizing the economy and moving closer to the EU," calling for joint efforts in implementation. She had previously highlighted the concrete benefits for citizens, including the reduction of roaming costs and the improvement of public services, which are expected to be achieved through the implementation of the plan.
Delays in adopting this reform framework have cost BiH around 108 million euros in EU financial support.
This significant financial loss, as economic analysts point out, not only further slows the country’s necessary economic and social transition, but also sends a clear message about political irresponsibility. Although the agenda is now formally on the table, the fact that its adoption came almost at the last minute suggests the possibility of continued political blockades, often driven by the interests of individual actors rather than the well-being of citizens and the acceleration of the European path.
BiH planned to use EU funds to complete work on the Pan-European Corridor 5C, which would connect Croatia’s Port of Ploče with Budapest.
It also planned to modernize the railway network, while important energy projects and the reconstruction of the transmission grid, as well as the digitalization of the country, were proposed.
Reform Agenda – A Set of Concrete Measures the State Must Fulfill
The Reform Agenda is a document that represents a set of concrete measures that the state must implement in order to meet precise standards and conditions set by the EU for the allocation of financial resources.
Among the most important measures envisaged by the reform, and which are conditions for accessing the funds, are: improving infrastructure, digitalizing public services, increasing energy efficiency at the state level, enhancing transparency in the fight against corruption, and strengthening the rule of law.
However, despite the adoption of the agenda itself, one aspect continues to raise concern – the details of the agreement, including the distribution of responsibilities between the state and entity levels of government, are still not fully known to the wider public. It is also not known how the issue of the selection of judges for the Constitutional Court of BiH has been resolved. This lack of transparency at the beginning of the process raises questions about the readiness of all political actors to consistently implement the obligations they have undertaken.
(EUpravo zato)
