Deputies of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska have voted to stop the approval of the Agreement on freedom of movement with identity cards in the Western Balkans, during the session held in Banja Luka on June 27.

With this decision, the lifting of the visa regime between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo has been prohibited, despite the fact that on this issue an agreement was reached for free movement in the Western Balkans during a meeting within the Berlin process in November 2022.

All 64 deputies present voted on this issue. For this decision to be approved, a two-thirds majority was required.

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not recognize Kosovo’s independence due to opposition from Republika Srpska officials.

The hearing was called after the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Žekja Cijanović, initiated a mechanism to protect the vital interests of Republika Srpska, because according to her, during the June 21 meeting of the Presidency, there was no consensus on this issue. She said that lifting the visa regime would be harmful to the vital interests of Republika Srpska.