KRIŠTO SHOULD INITIATE REVIEW OF CHIEF NEGOTIATOR WITH EU DECISION'S CONSTITUTIONALITY

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 31 /SRNA/ – The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac expects the Council of Ministers Chairwoman Borjana Krišto to request the Constitutional Court of BiH a review of the constitutionality and legality of the the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly's decision on establishing the Office of the Chief Negotiator with the EU.

Košarac told SRNA that the decision of the House of Representatives is unconstitutional and unlawful, as well as absolutely unenforceable. He says he expects Krišto to initiate a constitutional and legal procedure to assess the constitutionality and legality of this decision, in accordance with the BiH Constitution and the Law on the Council of Ministers. Košarac warned that the political adventure of the "Troika" parties, SDA, and the Republika Srpska opposition will have unforeseeable consequences, for which they must take responsibility. He described the Republika Srpska opposition's behaviour as a shameful and humiliating act of betrayal, as they voted in favour of denying Republika Srpska its voice and visibility in the EU integration process. "We will not allow that," Košarac said. He emphasized that the adopted decision not only conflicts with constitutional competencies but also violates the Law on the Council of Ministers and the Law on Administration of BiH. Košarac explained that the Law on the Council of Ministers stipulates that this institution may establish permanent or temporary offices, directorates, services, committees, and other bodies to ensure complete, efficient, quality, and coordinated performance of its functions and that the Office of the Chief Negotiator of BiH falls within this category, as it is a special expert body of a temporary nature. He pointed out that the Law on Administration of BiH was also violated, as it provides that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, not one of its houses, may establish expert, technical, and other services, only for the needs of the entire Parliamentary Assembly, not for a single house. "They have brutally excluded the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament from the decision-making process, seeking to bypass the majority will of the Serb and also the Croat peoples," Košarac said, adding that he is not surprised by the behavior of the "Troika" and SDA, since, as he stated, their motives are well known.