Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers was unable to hold its scheduled 95th session on December 2 after members of the SNSD party blocked the agenda, delaying key EU-related legislation, the government said in a statement.

Seven ministers voted in favour of the proposed agenda, while three opposed it, preventing discussion of draft laws on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, amendments to the Law on the Court of BiH, and the establishment of an Office of the Chief EU Negotiator. These measures are considered essential for Bosnia’s next steps in EU accession.

The failure to pass them comes at a sensitive time as Bosnia seeks to meet conditions for opening EU accession negotiations, which could be considered at the European Council meeting later this month.

Council chairwoman Borjana Krišto expressed disappointment at the outcome, saying extensive preparatory work had been done and that all conditions for discussion had been met. “These are things that are certainly one of the conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European path; they are equally good and necessary for all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” she said, as quoted by Klix.ba. 

SNSD ministers, led by Foreign Trade Minister Staša Košarac, defended their decision, saying it was necessary to protect the constitutional authority of Republika Srpska and prevent decisions being taken without its agreement. “We are not blocking but defending the institutions of RS,” Košarac said, Klix.ba reported. He added that the Republika Srpska government will provide its formal opinion on the laws.

The canceled session means the Council of Ministers could not address the remaining items on its 33-point agenda, including other legislative proposals and reports. No new date for the session has been announced, and it remains unclear whether political consensus exists to advance the EU-related laws in their current form.