Commission Decision of on a Multi-annual Indicative Planning Document

Abstract

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with BiH was initialled in December 2007 following progress in the four key areas4. After the adoption of the two police laws5 in April 2008, the SAA was signed in June 2008 together with an Interim Agreement which focuses on trade and other Community-related competencies. The Interim Agreement entered into force on 1 July 2008. However since the preparation of the precedent strategy paper (MIPD 2007 – 2009), Bosnia and Herzegovina has made only limitedprogress in implementing the remaining reforms required by the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). It is a continuing and considerable challenge for Bosnia and Herzegovina to comply with the political requirements of the SAP by increasing the effectiveness of the executive and legislative bodies, improving the co-ordination between State and Entities and to agree on the reform of its police structure. IPA can assist in the strengthening of administrative capacity, can support domestic efforts on constitutional reform, and can assist in the reform of the police and the judicial system. Substantial political risks relate to this core reform areas and resistance of key political stakeholders may impede the success of the reforms. The Commission will consider those risks in the programming of its assistance.