The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko and Boris Iarochevitchfrom the European Union Delegation to BiH have met today in Sarajevo with Collegiums of Federation BiH House of Peoples and House of Representatives in order to discuss the consequences if the FBiH Parliament goes ahead and adopts the proposed amendments to the Law on Civil Service and Law on Organization of Administrative bodies in FBiH as adopted by the FBiH Government.

HR/EUSR Inzko expressed serious concern that if adopted, these amendments would undermine the achievements of the Public Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the abolishment of the civil service status of heads of independent bodies, administrations and organizations – as the proposed amendments foresee – effectively means that such posts will become political appointments.

He warned that if these key positions are politically appointed, as opposed to being assigned on the basis of merit-based selection, the fundamental principle of professionalism and political neutrality that underpin public administration reform will be unraveled.

The HR/EUSR Inzko informed both Collegiums of the FBiH Parliament that adoption of these amendments would represent a step backwards in the European integration process and also a further step backwards in the harmonization of civil service legislation in BiH, which is a prime goal of the ongoing Public Administration Reform process.

“If these amendments are adopted, the civil service in FBiH would become unnecessarily politicised and that should not happen.” – said HR/EUSR Inzko.