Why Did the Government Back Down on Most of its Own Initial Demands Put Forward and Set as Croatia’s Priorities in EU Council Conclusions

In order for the public to be fully informed of the reasons for which the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović is dissatisfied with the part of the EU Council conclusions on the enlargement and stabilisation and association process that relate to Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are publishing the letter that was sent yesterday by the President of the Republic to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

We emphasize that during the negotiations with EU partners on the conclusions in relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Government backed down on most of the initial demands that it put forward on behalf of the Republic of Croatia on its own, setting them as Croatia’s priorities. The key question is why did the Government back down and agree to the adoption of conclusions that do not contain just about any of the demands that were initially set by the Republic of Croatia. Apart from that, we warn that the Government has backed down also on the positions agreed by the National Security Council at its last session.

It is unacceptable for such an outcome and content of the conclusions to be presented as Croatia’s success, keeping in mind that the Republic of Croatia, as a full member of the EU, could have and should have prevented the adoption of the conclusions, which would prove that it is resolutely protecting not only the rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a constituent people, but also the national interests of the Republic of Croatia.

The following is the letter in full from the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović that was sent yesterday to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I was informed of the EU Council conclusions on the enlargement and stabilisation and association process of 14 December 2021 in which the part relating to Bosnia and Herzegovina has caused me great concern.

The protection of the rights of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only a constitutional duty, but also a strategic security interest of the Republic of Croatia. Croatia’s interest is a whole and stable Bosnia and Herzegovina with which we will build relations as friends and partners. I am deeply convinced that it is the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina who are the link preventing the further destabilization and disintegration of the country. Ensuring that their rights as a constituent people are fully upheld is necessary not only as the key precondition for their survival, but also as the foundation for the stability and functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina. An unavoidable factor for the survival of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina is adherence to the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement as the constitutional basis for the functioning of the country and the equality and legitimate representation of all constituent peoples. Unfortunately, Croats have long been limited in their ability to elect legitimate representatives at many levels of authority. Without proper reforms to the electoral system, the elections that are due to be held next year could have negative consequences for the future status of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which cannot survive without them. It is our duty to do all we can to ensure that Croats remain a constituent people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this context, the EU Council conclusions that were just adopted do not contribute to protecting the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or to protecting Croatia’s national interest. On the contrary, these conclusions could be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the efforts of those who oppose changes to the election law that would enable the legitimate representation of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would like to emphasize that in my opinion the Government has correctly set the initial proposals toward our EU partners, in order for the aspect of constituency, the upcoming electoral reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the legitimate representation of Croats in the country to be properly included in this document, which would then provide a good foundation for those processes that are already underway in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, it is incomprehensible to me why the Government has backed down on such minimal demands during the negotiations and agreed to the adoption of conclusions that do not contain just about any of the demands that were initially set by the Republic of Croatia, whereby these conclusions could not be reached without the consent of the Republic of Croatia. In my view this represents a departure from the positions on which we agreed at the last session of the National Security Council.

The Republic of Croatia is a member of the European Union and as such can and must act above all with a view to implementing its fundamental national interests and protecting the vital rights of its citizens. After all, other members do the same when their strategic interests are at stake. As a rule, our partners and allies thereby expect and even receive the support of the Republic of Croatia. Thus, it was to be expected that they would act in the same way when it comes to the national interests of the Republic of Croatia. In addition, it is surprising that the Council has failed to protect EU citizens living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the vast majority of whom have the citizenship of the Republic of Croatia, and thus of the European Union.

Mr. Prime Minister, this document could not be adopted without the consent of all EU members, including the Republic of Croatia. Therefore, I must once again express my complete disagreement with this approach, which has abandoned the protection of national interests. As long as the Government of the Republic of Croatia acts in this way – declaring that it is advocating for the protection of the rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but at the same time backing down whenever it is necessary to take decisive action, for instance to prevent the adoption of an unacceptable document such as this one – there will be no chance of success and the position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina will become weaker in the negotiations.

In this context, I believe that the Republic of Croatia must not support any document whose adoption requires our consent, if it does not contain basic elements of protection of the Croatian people, such as the constituency of all three peoples, the guarantee of their legitimate representation and the full adherence to the Dayton Agreement. Only in this way can we protect the national interest of the Republic of Croatia.

I therefore expect that the Government of the Republic of Croatia will through its deeds, above all in the EU – but also in all other forums and international organizations of which the Republic of Croatia is a member – act in this way. Only such a clear position and its firm and resolute implementation will receive my full support as co-creator of the foreign policy of the Republic of Croatia.”