In an op-ed published this week by BalkanInsight, commentator Srecko Latal examines the practice of BiH and entity politicians of blocking the implementation of laws or international agreements in order to exert leverage over rivals. According to Latal, the practice brings harm to all institutions and communities in BiH.
Recently the RS leadership held up approval of adaptations to the Stabilization and Association Agreement between BiH and the EU, citing harmful trade policies. In response, SDA leaders have blocked delivery of a new IMF loan. That move is likely to hurt the Federation as much as the RS.
Blocking the country’s path to the EU will not only hurt “the state” or the Federation entity, as some politicians in Republika Srpska, RS, seem to think. It means less investments and job opportunities in both entities.
On the other hand, the possible bankruptcy of Republika Srpska, which some Bosniak officials seem to wish for, would create a liquidity crisis in the Federation entity and at state level as well.
After all, Bosnia remains one country with one financial system, despite the evident wish of some Serbian, Croatian but also Bosniak actors to undo that.
To make the situation even more complex, it is hard to say when and why this “blocking game” started and who began it.
