The EU Committee for Pre-Accession Funds has decided to cancel 45 million EUR from IPA intended for BiH because of the lack of progress in implementing the Sejdic-Finci decision, and the eventual failure to bring a coordination mechanism and adopt sectoral policies, which is a condition for IPA 2, may cost BH 80-90 million EUR a year during the next seven years.
At a press conference on Tuesday at the seat of the EU Delegation to BH in Sarajevo, the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Enlargement, Joost Korte, expressed regret that BH political leaders have failed, despite maximum support from Brussels, to reach an agreement on the Sejdic-Finci issue, so the EU decided to “cut funds for IPA 1”.
“This is why 45 million EUR will not go to BH – 23.5 million EUR will be redirected to Kosovo, and the rest will be allocated to the Regional Housing Project for refugees and displaced persons”, Korte said.
The EU Committee for Pre-Accession Funds on Monday decided to cancel KM 45 million EUR in assistance from funds which are intended to assist accession to the EU.
Cancellation of IPA funds was announced in October following the unsuccessful meeting between Fule and seven BiH political party leaders on implementing the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Sejdic-Finci case.
