Report: (No) Road to Europe
This report calls for a rethinking of Bosnian public policy. Currently, Bosnia has not adequately learned from its past successes and failures, nor has it put structures in place to fully benefit from European assistance. Through a case study on the transport sector, we discuss the value of European Union initiatives in BiH, the level of control Bosnia has over these processes, and the relevance of these policies to Bosnia’s path to Europe.
November 2010 will be a very important month for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future European orientation. Newly elected leaders are to consolidate their governments and the visa liberalization process is soon to be completed. The Bosnian government has become more serious in its efforts to open up chapters of the acquis communautaire as the European Commission releases its progress report assessing the possibility of BiH’s EU candidate status.
In order to begin the next phase its path to EU, BiH will have to become an active partner in the process. The country must honestly assess its progress thus far, recognize and learn from its successes and failures, and start actively participating in policy setting. Finally, Bosnia needs to put the proper structures in place to fully benefit from European assistance. What this calls for is a complete rethinking of Bosnian policy. Through a case study on the transport sector, we discuss the value of European Union initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the level of ownership Bosnia has over these processes, and the relevance of these policies to Bosnia’s path to Europe.
