Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

How low are those standards compared to EU standards? We met politicians from Serbia and people from civic society who said that if Croatia's membership of the EU goes ahead, as appears to be the case - Serbia is down the line and Bosnia is further down the line, if it is even in the line - it will cause instability in the region through the loss of half its income because of various barriers. At the same time there are difficulties in regard to bilateral disputes between Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia which revolve around borders, transit through Neum, access to Ploče harbour and the number and location of veterinary crossings and the impact of EU accession. That will have a huge impact on Bosnian society if Croatia's membership goes ahead. I had a number of questions but they are not relevant given the statement the delegates have made today. I can understand their frustration which could be mirrored in other countries, particularly at this time of austerity. Civic society is losing faith in politicians. The delegates also mention corruption within Bosnian society. I did not realise the extent of it. There is corruption in all society but the picture painted for us in respect of Bosnia is not of a viable state and certainly not a state one would want within the European Union. Are the delegates saying there is a need for change in society? Politicians from abroad cannot initiate that change as it has to come from within Bosnian society. If people continue to vote for those who have created the problems in the past and will create them in the future, I feel helpless on the basis of their presentations today. When replying perhaps they will expand on that area and if there is anything specific that we can do, particularly in regard to standards in agriculture, including not only dairy products but honey. Maybe some flexibility can be shown in that area.