Bosnia and Herzegovina – Visit by M. Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe (4 and 5 April 2025)

As Bosnia and Herzegovina goes through a serious political and institutional crisis following the verdict delivered against Mr Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian-Serb entity Republika Srpska, and the adoption in Republika Srpska of laws and decisions detrimental to the constitutional order and public freedoms, M. Benjamin Haddad wanted to reiterate his commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the spirit of the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement, to which France is witness.

Following on from his Quint meeting last week co-organized by France, he spoke ahead of his visit to Germany's Europe Minister, Ms Anna Lührmann, among others, to coordinate their action while we closely monitor the situation.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Minister Delegate met the main Bosnia-and-Herzegovina authorities and representatives of local political forces. It provided an opportunity for him to voice his deep concern about the recent adoption in Republika Srpska of laws and decisions undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional order and the public freedoms it guarantees. The Minister Delegate also visited the French detachment of EUFOR's Operation Althea, commanded by the French general Hubert Cottereau, which has been working for more than 20 years to maintain a safe environment and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, he spoke to several members of civil society, whom he assured of France's unfailing support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European [Union membership] pathway.