One of the three agreements on free movement in the Western Balkans, which were signed in November 2022 as part of the Berlin process, refers to freedom of movement only with IDs in the Western Balkans.
While the other two agreements are for the recognition of higher education diplomas and for the recognition of the professional qualifications of doctors of medicine, doctors of dentistry and architects.
In the case of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this also means the lifting of visa regime, which has burdened the residents of both countries for years.
However, politicians from Republika Srpska reject ratification, even though the former chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoran Tegeltija, who is a member of Dodik’s party, was one of the signatories of that document in Berlin last year.
The removal of visas with Kosovo has been opposed for years by politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities headed by President Milorad Dodik, who heads the governing Alliance of Independent Social Democrats.
The member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zheljka Cvijanovic, has called this issue destructive to the vital interest of the Republika Srpska entity.
Cvijanovic mentioned the initiation of the veto due to the “escalation of the crisis in the north of Kosovo”, saying that the “regime” of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, “does not deserve benefits”.
On June 21, she announced the initiation of a veto, as a constitutional option for members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would further cement the agreement on the visa-free regime.
“In principle, I am for the freedom of movement of citizens and goods, but in these circumstances, Pristina cannot now be part of this agreement”, declared Cvijanović for the Radio and Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS).
So far, the agreements have been ratified by all countries, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the work [on the ratification of the agreement by the Parliament] in Montenegro is in the final stage.
