Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik told press today that consensus had been reached “at all levels” on the adaptations to the Stabilization and Association Agreement between BiH and the EU. RS officials had withheld their approval of the deal based on concerns that the free trade provisions would seriously harm RS farmers and producers, and damage the broader economies of the entity and BiH. In recent days, the German government has given assurances that the costs to RS and BiH can be mitigated. Speaking to reporters, President Dodik made it clear that he is confident in the German effort.
“The SAA enters into force on January 1 next year and there is plenty of time to do everything. In the coming months we expect a series of measures which will be set up together with Germany,” said Dodik.
In his remarks, President Dodik explicitly stated that Mladen Ivanic, the Serb member of the BiH presidency, had the RS government’s approval to sign off on the SAA.
