New recently published policy analysis of the Research Forum of the European Movement in Serbia, deals with Relations between Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and definition of new policy.

Authors of the analysis, Mr Dragan Djukanovic and Ms Jasminka Kronja, have highlighted numerous problems affecting relations between two countries, and the overview of all open questions is provided – from the issue of interstate demarcation, the problem related to processing of war crimes and status of pre-war assets of business subjects, to the status of refugees from B&H in Serbia. Additional problems in the relations of two countries are unfinished process of succession of former Yugoslavia and dysfunction of Interstate Council for Cooperation.
 
Relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are hampered by unbalanced relations of the central government in Belgrade with Republika Srpska, but also with the second entity – Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with the state Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. Special attention is given to the necessity of clearer differentiation of policies of neighbouring countries – Serbia and Croatia – especially in relation to the previous politics of destabilization and separation of B&H that prevailed in public discourse during the last decade of the 20th century. Authors suggest more active and constructive role of these states with primary goal to enhance the stabilization of the complex internal relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The text consists of author’s recommendations related to definition of effective public policy in relations between two countries:

• As part of its foreign policy activities, the Republic of Serbia should, together with other entities in the region and the leading actors of the international community, contribute to the complete stabilization of the situation in B&H and its rapid accession to the EU and NATO, which can be achieved through modification of the existing constitutional order of B&H with the preservation of basic principles of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
• Serbia’s policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be aimed primarily at strengthening relations with the state as a whole and continued institutionalized dialogue, especially between the highest representatives of the two countries, which makes it necessary to reactivate the Interstate Council for Cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Following the example of the existing Agreement on special parallel relations between Serbia and the Republika Srpska, another one, similar or identical to the Belgrade agreement, should be signed with the government of the other Bosnian entity – the Federation B&H.
• It is necessary to increase the number of new bilateral agreements signed in the field of justice, home affairs, trade, tourism and environmental protection.
• The official prosecutor’s offices and the Ministries of Justice of Serbia and B&H should jointly coordinate the implementation of a large number of international agreements that would make prosecution of persons accused of serious crimes and war crimes more efficient and effective.
• Joint body for monitoring the process of European Integration of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and for exchanging experiences in this complex process should be formed.

This policy paper was prepared within the Research Forum, a novel permanent program body of the European Movement in Serbia which conducts evidence-based and in-depth researches and analyses of the actual situation in the reform process in different fields, and prepares alternative public policy proposals for more effective and efficient reforms in the fields related to the Serbia’s process of European Integration.

All policy analyses and policy papers of the Research Forum in Serbian language are published at the EMinS’ Internet page www.emins.org.

The Research forum is financially supported by the Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.