Resolution adopted by the ELDR Congress 2008 in Stockholm

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, on 30-31 October 2008,

1. noting that 12 years after the Dayton Peace Agreement ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina this country is still under the international care of the European Union, the USA and the international community;
2. noting that the Constitution written as the Annex of the Dayton Peace Agreement is preventing this country from becoming stable, functional, self-sustainable and a potential member of the EU;
3. accepting resolutions and conclusions adopted several times by the US Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the Venice Commission, which call for urgent changes and reform of the Dayton Constitution to address several Constitutional problems;

We European Liberals and Democrats are taking the initiative to participate in finding a solution to one of problems concerning European territory, and therefore

1. We believe that it is time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to work towards the creation of a state with more functional, self-sustaining institutions;
2. We believe that the constitutional reforms of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be consistent with the goal of membership of the European Union; 
3. We declare our political will to support the full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, based on the protection of democracy, basic human rights and rule of law;
4. As liberals, we will strongly support the process of adopting a new reformed constitution based on civic representation and which fully eliminates the ethno-territorial arrangements which reflect and institutionalize the effects of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina

We call on the ALDE group and liberal MEPs to give strong support to this issue, and we call on the European Parliament to come-up with an official stand regarding Bosnian constitutional problems and solutions.