Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 44: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade If he has given further consideration to the views of a person (details supplied) regarding the possibility of further conflict in Bosnia; his views on whether the lack of enforcement of the Dayton rules by the Office of the United Nations High Representative and EUFOR is leading towards greater instability and the possibility of State collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14897/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Since addressing this issue in response to a parliamentary question on 25 January there have been encouraging developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina moving it closer to a demonstrable realisation of its European perspective. Firstly, following the formation of the State-level government on 10 February, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Vjekoslav Bevanda, has publically stated his intention to implement the necessary reforms to enable the EU-Bosnia-Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) to come into force and, thereafter, to bring forward an application for EU candidate status before the end of this year. While this is an ambitious timeframe, the intention nevertheless demonstrates a political will at the State-level to achieve tangible goals that will move Bosnia-Herzegovina closer to the European Union and is an undeniable affirmation of the European aspirations of Sarajevo.

Work is progressing in Bosnia-Herzegovina on fulfilling the conditions required to allow for the entry into force of the SAA. This in itself is indicative of an atmosphere of stability and a motivated attitude towards implementing the necessary reforms for European integration.

This is not to say that vigilance, and indeed active engagement by the international community, in Bosnia-Herzegovina is not warranted. Problems of dysfunctionality, criminality and corruption exist and are the greatest challenge to reform facing Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are also the greatest challenges facing the international community, in particular the European Union, in assisting the country in paving its way towards European integration.

I agree with the assessment that a return to organised violence and a collapse of the State is unlikely. The continued presence of EUFOR Althea with its peace and stabilisation role, which was authorised for a further 12 months by the UN Security Council last November, is, I believe, a sufficient deterrent to any unlikely organised mass-mobilisation of violence. I would also agree with the proposition that as Bosnia-Herzegovina moves forward, it should do so with the European Union rather than under aegis of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the Bonn Powers. With the assumption of the role of European Union Special Representative by Peter Sorensen in September 2011, the EU has reinforced its presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the express aim of accelerating the country's progress towards EU membership and reaffirming the inalienable European identity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Also, with the conferring of candidate status on Serbia at the March European Council and the signing of the Croatian Accession Treaty in December, both of which Ireland was, and continues to be, strongly supportive, I look forward to the constructive role that both countries will play in assisting Bosnia in following the path towards the EU that they are so successfully treading.