European Western Balkans continues with series of interviews with
key people from Western Balkans countries which are involved in European
integration process of their countries. H.E. Peter M. Sørensen is Head
of the European Union Delegation to BiH  and the European Union Special
Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Sørensen has a BA degree
(1991) and Master of Law degree (1993) from Aarhus University.

He
has been a lawyer in Denmark and Officer in the Danish Army.
Internationally he has been political/legal advisor to the United
Nations Special Envoy to the Balkans; head of Political Affairs, OSCE
Mission to Croatia and legal Advisor to the High Representative,
Sarajevo, Bosnia and  Herzegovina, Carl Bildt and European Community
Monitor Mission, Sarajevo.

He has served as adviser to the
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General as well as to the
Deputy SRSG and Head of UNMIK EU Pillar IV, Kosovo. From 2002 to 2006
Sørensen serverd as Deputy Head of UNMIK EU Pillar IV and Director of
the European Office.From 2009 to 2011 he was the EU High
Representative’s Personal Representative in Belgrade. Sørensen was
appointed European Union Special Representative and Head of the EU
Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina in September 2011 after previously
having served as Head of the EU Delegation in Skopje.

European
Western Balkans: What is your personal opinion about the European Union
and about importance of integration of the Bosnia and Herzegovina and
the region of WB in the EU?

H.E. Peter Sørensen: I believe
that Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other Western Balkans countries, who
have a clear membership perspective, belong in the European Union.
There is a chair waiting for BiH in Brussels along with the right to
speak up as a member of the EU family.

EU integration is a game
changer in the region. It has proved its economic benefits such as
boosting trade, it helps countries to transform and build closer
regional ties as they introduce similar economic and judicial reforms in
order to qualify for EU’s membership.

I believe that through the
reforms that make up the path to the EU, Bosnia and Herzegovina can see
a real improvement in its economy, in citizens’ standard of living and
in its justice system to name a few areas.
EU leaders have expressed
their full commitment. It has been often repeated both from Brussels and
Member State capitals that work on the EU project will not be finished
until the Western Balkans countries join. It was also reiterated last
April in the latest Council conclusions.

Most important of course
is the opinion of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We know from
surveys that the overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country
want BiH in the European Union. BiH citizens want to join the Union
because they want jobs, prosperity and security.

EWB: The role
of the EU Delegation to BiH it is not the same as any other Delegation
in, for example, Skopje or Podgorica. Can you explain us role of EU
Delegation in Bosnia?

PS: Having worked in the Western
Balkans region for some years – I have worked in Zagreb, Belgrade,
Pristina and Skopje – it is possible to see some similarities and some
differences.

Obviously, some of the problems we deal with are the
same everywhere – high unemployment especially among youth and
de-industrialization, the need for a robust fight against corruption,
transposition of EU standards into domestic law and implementation of
IPA funds for example. Like Delegations in other countries we too
monitor and assess the accession process and operate the related
structures – such as sectoral committees – together with the BiH
authorities.
Working in Bosnia and Herzegovina does differ though.

Firstly
the Delegation manages the implementation of IPA funds, this is not yet
handed over to the country. Currently there are 210 million Euro of
projects on-going and there are almost 150 million Euro of projects
which are yet to start, which are not yet contracted or programmed.

Secondly,
because of the EU’s deep interest in seeing BiH move forward, I am also
mandated as EU Special Representative in the country, with a mission to
provide the guidance of the EU in the political process.
This is
especially needed as Bosnia and Herzegovina has a complex governance
structure, with various levels of authority being in charge of different
issues. This requires an extra engagement on the side of the EU as we
interact with all the parliaments, ministries and agencies. We engage on
a wide variety of topics ranging from constitutional reform to public
security issues, economic governance to judicial reform. It is important
that honest discussion on these leads the political leadership of this
country to a shared future vision. A vision which will be anchored in
the EU’s accession process and which will lead to modernization of the
country and to a competitive and free market economy.

Now
following the recent floods and the massive involvement of the EU in the
rescue phase, we are deeply engaged in the recovery phase. We are
co-ordinating the Recovery Needs Assessment work and we will be
providing substantial financial assistance in the months and years to
come.

EWB: How does institutional cooperation between EU
Delegation to BiH and OHR looks like? And how with institutions of the
entities of BiH?

PS: As I mentioned above, we engage with
authorities at all levels depending on their competences in EU
integration matters. Where a BiH institution – such as an Entity – has a
role to play we engage with them.  In particular we are working
consistently with State and Entities to help establish a Coordination
Mechanism on EU related matters and assistance. This will help BiH to
speak with one voice to the EU. Coordination of EU affairs is one of the
greatest challenges for any country aspiring to join the EU. For Bosnia
and Herzegovina this challenge is even bigger due to its complex
institutional architecture.

As for the OHR, obviously we have our
separate mandates and hence our specific issues to focus on. The High
Representative is the final authority for civilian part of the Dayton
Peace Accord and OHR works on so-called Dayton issues. The EU is
concerned with the EU integration issues. Of course, we meet regularly
to consult on various topics.

I would also like to underline the
strong involvement of the embassies of the EU Member States in Bosnia
and Herzegovina. All of them are keen to see BiH advancing on its
European path, and although they are running their own commercial and
cultural activities, we stand as one when encouraging and assisting
reforms in BiH at all levels We visit Entities, Cantons and
municipalities often in order to learn from local businessmen,
authorities, the citizens and youth about their day-to-day problems.

EWB:
Bosnia has no or slowest progress towards the EU. We all know the
problems that are on the way. Can you tell us, is there any progress in
negotiations led by Commissioner Füle? Except the Sejdic-Finci judgment
and Election law is there something else which stands in the way of a
better future for citizens of BiH?

PS: Commissioner Füle
facilitated talks of political parties’ leaders in Bosnia and
Herzegovina in order to help them to reach an agreement on implementing
the Sejdic-Finci judgement. During these talks a common ground has been
found on a number of questions raised, but some of issues remained.It is
clear that we want the judgment implemented and the discrimination to
end.

But the EU’s engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina was not
halted. The European Commission is putting a focus on better economic
governance in all countries in the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina should
be one of the first countries to benefit from this new approach. The
European Commission will assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to prepare a
National Economic Reform Programme. It will push forward reforms and
actions to tackle dysfunctional labour market, get better co-ordination
on economic and fiscal policies and create a better environment for
business. We will also propose a Competitiveness and Growth Programme to
push forward the sectoral reforms – in, for example transport, telecoms
and energy – that will enhance BiH’s competitiveness, unlock
investments, growth – and employment, which has a very special role in
this new approach.

In light of that, we organised last month a
Forum for Prosperity and Jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants
reached consensus that the high unemployment rates, especially among
youth, low rates of investment and growth, a complicated and
non-transparent business climate, and a low level of social support for
the less-well-off in society are the key issues to be addressed by a
coherent and comprehensive reform agenda. All of this now has to become
part of the agenda of the incoming governments and parliaments after
October’s elections. The EU and international financial organisations
like World Bank, IMF, EBRD and others will be ready to support
implementation of reforms.

EWB: How is the adoption of
European standards, regardless of the integration of BiH into the EU,
important for the citizens of BiH? Although BiH has no progress in
talks, do institutions of the country together with EU Delegation work
on laws and implementation of EU standards?

PS: Bosnia and
Herzegovina has signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with
the European Union, but it is not fully in force yet. Nonetheless,
transposition of EU law and standards has begun. It is a massive task
which influences and regulates almost all aspects of industrial
production, agriculture, trade, business. Various projects have been
designed and financed through IPA in order to help Bosnia and
Herzegovina to adopt EU standards.

It is vital to adopt and
implement EU standards because this will allow products “Made in BiH” to
reach consumers in the EU. More trade means profits for local firms,
more investments and more new jobs in BiH. On the other hand, adoption
of EU-related laws will help you become part of the Single Market and
introduce some best regulatory practice from the EU’s experience. It
some cases, it will involve change of competencies between State and
Entities, within Entities, but this is normal. In fact, the very nature
of the EU is the transfer and pooling of certain competences at the EU
level, which saves taxpayers’ money and introduces fair and equal
treatment across the borders of the member states.

One very
specific example of how we help continuously with reforms: in 2011 we
launched the Structured Dialogue on Justice between EU and Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Through its technical and plenary meetings, it aims to help
strengthen the rule of law in potential candidate countries, even prior
to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The Structured Dialogue assists Bosnia and Herzegovina to consolidate
an independent, effective, efficient and professional judicial system.
Hence it helps the country to move further along its path towards the
EU.

EWB: What do you consider to be especially important for further integration of the Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU?

PS:
The various authorities involved in EU integration in BiH need to
acknowledge that they are getting left behind while other countries in
the region move forward and intensify their efforts for reforms.
Firstly,
it is BiH institutions and leaders who have the leading role and the
main responsibility.  They need to put the EU reforms above daily
politics and make the agreements to get the legislation passed, the
funds implemented and the conditions fulfilled for BiH to become an EU
candidate country.

The voice of civil society needs to be heard
much more loudly. The business community must make its influence felt,
because the EU’s single market is a huge opportunity for them. And
citizens need to hold their elected representatives accountable. All of
this is needed for the country to move forward.

EWB: Thank you
Y.E. for your time. European Western Balkans wishes you very best in
very best in your future activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.