Political Deadlock Persists Over Amendments to Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federation Constitution

Political leaders in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) have failed to reach an agreement on amendments to the entity's constitution, as the deadline set by the High Representative approaches. Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has reminded the FBiH authorities of the impending deadline for adopting a solution to ensure the smooth appointment of the FBiH Government.

According to the High Representative's decision on April 27, 2023, Amendment CXXXI to the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will come into effect on May 1, 2024, without requiring any further normative act to ensure its legal effect. Schmidt has called on political stakeholders to keep this deadline in mind and to provide any constructive proposals to improve the amendments.

The political deadlock over constitutional amendments in the FBiH is part of the broader challenges faced by Bosnia and Herzegovina in its post-war transition. While some countries in the Western Balkans, such as Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, have successfully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions like NATO and the EU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Serbia and Kosovo, have faced more difficulties due to contentious issues surrounding border delineations and minority rights.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Defense and Security Committee recently visited the Western Balkans region to better understand the complex political and security landscape, including discussions on the implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The countries in the Western Balkans have made varied progress in their economic, political, and security transitions since the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, with some being fully embedded in the Euro-Atlantic community while others face ongoing challenges.

Why this matters: The political impasse over constitutional amendments in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights the ongoing challenges in the country's post-war transition and its efforts to integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions. The failure to reach a consensus on key constitutional issues could have implications for the stability and progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.

As the May 1 deadline approaches, the High Representative has emphasized the importance of finding a solution to ensure the smooth functioning of the FBiH Government. Schmidt has urged political leaders to engage constructively and propose improvements to the amendments, underscoring the need for compromise and dialogue in resolving the constitutional deadlock.

Key Takeaways

• Political leaders in FBiH fail to reach agreement on constitutional amendments.
• High Representative sets May 1, 2024 deadline for FBiH to adopt solution.
• Bosnia's post-war transition lags behind other Western Balkans countries.
• NATO delegation visits region to understand complex political, security landscape.
• Failure to resolve constitutional issues could impact Bosnia's stability and progress.