Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of the current dialogue between Bosnia and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25484/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Dialogue between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union is based on the shared agenda agreed at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki in June 2003. In this context, the EU is committed to support Bosnia in its efforts to overcome the legacy of violence and division from the 1990s, and to assist it in working towards the goal of eventual integration into EU structures, initially through discussions on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The June 2004 European Council adopted a comprehensive policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the framework of the European Security Strategy agreed by the European Council in December 2003. The comprehensive policy sets out practical arrangements to enhance the coherence and effectiveness of the EU's engagement in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective. Particular attention is paid to the role of the High Representative/EU Special Representative in ensuring coherence between the Commission-led Stabilisation and Association process, the EU Police Mission, the EU Monitoring Mission and the EU military mission EUFOR. Ireland currently contributes 4 members of the Garda Síochána to the Police Mission, 2 members of the Garda to the Monitoring Mission and 40 members of the Defence Forces to EUFOR.

Negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU began in November 2005. While considerable progress has been made, a prerequisite for conclusion of the SAA is an agreement between political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina on police reform. Negotiations between the political parties on police reform have been underway since 2004. The EU requires that the police reform must meet three principles: that all responsibility for police budgets must belong to the State; that there should be no political interference in operational policing; and that there should be functional policing regions. In late August 2007, the new High Representative/EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcák, presented the political parties with a paper setting out the basis for an agreement on police reform which would satisfy the Union. This proposal has not so far proved acceptable to the political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mr Lajcák is expected to provide a report to a meeting of the post–Dayton Peace Implementation Council (PIC) at the end of October.

Ireland encourages the political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to redouble their efforts to put aside the divisions of the past and find an agreement on the much needed police reform. This reform is required not only for completion of the Stabilisation and Association process but as a fundamental building block of the state itself. Further constitutional reforms will also be needed to ensure a functioning and sustainable state in Bosnia and Herzegovina and we hope that the political parties will be prepared to work with the High Representative to address these issues once the question of police reform has been settled.

Ireland remains committed to a European perspective for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will continue to support its economic and political development, including through our participation in EUPM and EUFOR and our support for measures which facilitate trade. It is my intention to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina next month, which will allow me to make a personal assessment of the situation there.