High Representative Welcomes Approval of EC Police Agreement

“Today delegates at the BiH House of Peoples voted in favour of the EC approved agreement on Police Reform, and by doing so opened to door to Europe,” the High Representative said today. “Aside from the passage of the Public Broadcasting reform, this was the last major roadblock preventing BiH from starting Stabilisation and Association talks.”

The start of SAA negotiations will mark a decisive shift from post-war stabilisation on the one hand and transition towards Europe on the other, he said.

“The start of SAA negotiations will help put BiH irreversibly on course to effective statehood. From now on, BiH has a clear view of its future. The promise of the prosperity offered to each citizen that comes with association and eventual membership of the EU can be made a reality,” he said, noting that no country that has embarked on the road to Europe through the SAA process has yet failed to complete the journey to full membership.

The High Representative added that this agreement lays the political groundwork for a reform process which makes BiH’s policing more effective in the fight against the growing problem of crime. He pointed out that the next step is the formation of a Directorate of Police Implementation by 31 December. 

The EC approved Agreement on Police reform notes that the job of the Directorate is to make a plan for implementation that meets the three EC principles. The Directorate will be made up of professionals and experts from all levels of authority in BiH.