Παρουσίαση

The European Parliament has one delegation devoted to developing relations with elected representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Kosovo.

While the same delegation - officially named the Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo (DSEE) - works with both countries, it does so in two distinct forums.

Parliamentarians from the two countries and MEPs work together in joint "Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees" (abbreviated as SAPCs): the EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina SAPC and the EU-Kosovo SAPC.

Legal basis
For many years, members of the European Parliament met with elected representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Kosovo in informal Inter-Parliamentary Meetings (IPMs).

Once the Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) entered into force between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina (in 2015) and between the EU and Kosovo (in 2016), the forums for developing bilateral parliamentary contacts were anchored on a legal basis stemming from international agreements.

The SAPCs are defined in the Stabilisation and Association Agreements concluded between the EU and the respective countries:
"A political dialogue at parliamentary level shall take place within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee".

Composition
In addition to its 13 full members, the European Parliament's Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo Delegation counts 13 substitute members.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's and Kosovo's delegations to the joint committee also respectively include 13 full members and 13 substitutes, providing a balanced counterpart to the European Parliament's group.

Mr Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, Croatia) was elected Chair of the Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina delegation on 30 September 2024.

Procedure
The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees normally meet twice a year, either in the European Parliament's buildings (usually in Strasbourg) or in the partner country.

Each meeting lasts normally for two half days and includes representatives of the governments, the European Commission and the European External Action Service as guest speakers.

The agenda of each meeting usually focuses on 5-8 topics important to bilateral relations.

Each of the topics is introduced by a "first speaker", who is a SAPC member. These introductions are followed by exchanges of views with all the committee members.

The committees usually work to adopt a "declaration and recommendations" that are issued at the close of the meeting.

The Co-Chairs may also hold a press conference after all the sessions have concluded.

Public meetings
Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees meetings are public.

Minutes of the committee meetings are adopted at the following meeting, and audio recordings of the meetings are available on request. Some meetings may be web-streamed on the website of the European Parliament or the partner parliaments.

Delegation visits
When travelling to each of the countries for meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees, the European Parliament's DSEE delegation tries to organise additional discussions with government representatives, ambassadors from the EU, non-governmental organisations and civil servants. These provide useful and informed - sometimes divergent - views of the local situation.

MEPs also participate in field visits to projects financed by the EU. This allows them to scrutinise how EU funds are used abroad and report back to the European Parliament's appropriate committees, in order to help the committees fulfil their budgetary, political and legislative responsibilities.

STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo*, of the other part

Article 132

A Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (hereinafter referred to as the 'Parliamentary Committee') is hereby established. It shall be a forum for Members of the European Parliament and Members of the Parliament of Kosovo to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals that it shall itself determine, but at least once a year.

The Parliamentary Committee shall consist of Members of the European Parliament and Members of the Parliament of Kosovo.
The Parliamentary Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

The Parliamentary Committee shall be chaired in turn by a member of the European Parliament and by a member of the Parliament of Kosovo, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.

The Parliamentary Committee may make recommendations to the SAC [Stabilisation and Association Council].

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENTbetween the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part

Article 121

A Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the European Parliament to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals that it shall itself determine.

The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall consist of Members of the European Parliament and of Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall be chaired in turn by a member of the European Parliament and by a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.